ASSOCIATION OF COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITIES
Registered charity 314137 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as A C U
Working with our members and others to promote and contribute to the provision of excellent higher education for the benefit of all people throughout the Commonwealth and beyond. Administration and funding of student scholarships.
Causes: Education/training · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity achieved a small surplus of £3k before actuarial gains and transfers, with unrestricted reserves standing at £5,407k. Per the trustees' report, these free reserves are £1.5m above the stated policy limit of six months of expenditure plus 25%, indicating a strong liquidity position. The auditor confirmed that the use of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified.
Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: 6 months of expenditure plus 25% (held: £5.4m)
“ACU’s policy is to maintain reserves equivalent to 6 months of expenditure plus 25%.” — page 23
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: ACU Trading Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary providing staff services.
“ACU Trading Limited (Company number: 9119389) is a wholly owned subsidiary of ACU and its results for the period have been consolidated into Group Financial Statements of ACU. The principal activity of ACU Trading Limited is the provision of staff services to the ACU.” — page 24
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: ACU Trading Limited
“ACU Trading Limited (Company number: 9119389) is a wholly owned subsidiary of ACU” — page 24
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts audited by Crowe U.K. LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.
In the news
Recent coverage mentioning this charity by name (automated match; headlines belong to their publishers).
Corporate structure
Public-sector contracts awarded
From the official Contracts Finder and Find a Tender notices (supplier matched by exact registered name). Contract income is distinct from grants.
Property (HM Land Registry)
3 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/07/2025)
Cost of raising funds
£198k
Reported reserves equal ~7.8 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).
Per its annual return, largest income source: Other trading activities (52% 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: 2.5% of total income — below the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).
- Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfochair
- Dr Dinesh Surroop
- Professor Abdul Bari Mohammad Obaidul Islam
- Professor Alan Clarke Shepard
- Professor Benedict Mwavu Mutua
- Professor Chockalingam Raj Kumar
- Professor Dato' Ir. Dr Azuan Abu Osman Noor
- Professor Edmund Kieran Burke
- Professor Emily Achieng' Akuno
- Professor Eunice Angela Simmons
- Professor Grant Raymond Edwards
- Professor James A Miller
- Professor Kabiru Aderemi Adeyemo
- Professor Kenneth Matengu
- Professor Pattinikutti Mudiyanselange Chandralal Thilakarathne
- Professor Shearer Carroll West
- Professor Sibongile Muthwa
- Professor Sir Hilary McDonald Beckles
- Professor Stephen Bruce Dowton
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Camden
Income and spending
Common questions
Is ASSOCIATION OF COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITIES financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity achieved a small surplus of £3k before actuarial gains and transfers, with unrestricted reserves standing at £5,407k. Per the trustees' report, these free reserves are £1.5m above the stated policy limit of six months of expenditure plus 25%, indicating a strong liquidity position. The auditor confirmed that the use of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.
Government & lottery funding
Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).
Charities like this
Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION (UNITED KINGDOM BRANCH).
Side by side with its peers
Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.