BRITISH EXPLORING SOCIETY

Registered charity 802196 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as BRITISH SCHOOLS EXPLORING SOCIETY, BSES, BSES EXPEDITIONS

British Exploring Society is an educational charity. We inspire young people from all backgrounds to unlock their potential through exploration on demanding and scientific expeditions, helping them and society better understand the world around us.

Causes: Education/training · The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · Economic/community Development/employment · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£818k
Latest spending
£896k
Registered
1989

We have not yet analysed this charity’s accounts. Register data shown below.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/10/2025)

Total income
£817k
Total spending
£896k
Reserves (reported)
£215k
Employees
17

Reported reserves equal ~2.9 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (98% 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: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (4.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/10/2025£818k£896k
31/10/2024£904k£1.2m
31/10/2023£1.6m£1.8m
31/10/2022£1.6m£1.6m
31/10/2021£1.3m£1.2m

Common questions

Who funds BRITISH EXPLORING SOCIETY?

Funders whose own accounts filings name BRITISH EXPLORING SOCIETY as a grant recipient include THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST, THE EXILARCH'S FOUNDATION, UBS UK Donor-Advised Foundation, E B M CHARITABLE TRUST, THE BAND TRUST.

Known funders

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

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£255k
THE EXILARCH'S FOUNDATIONFY2022£120kUniversity/College
UBS UK Donor-Advised FoundationFY2021£100k
E B M CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£81k
THE BAND TRUSTFY2022£55kSpecific grantee
SOCIAL BUSINESS TRUSTFY2022£48k
E B M CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£20kGrant paid to institution
THE VANDERVELL FOUNDATIONFY2021£15kSocial welfare
The Portal TrustFY2025£15kBritish Exploring Society: Overseas Expedition Programmes 2023 - 2025
The Portal TrustFY2024£15kBritish Exploring Society: Overseas Expedition Programmes 2023 - 2025
THE VANDERVELL FOUNDATIONFY2022£15kSocial welfare
The Portal TrustFY2023£15kBritish Exploring Society: Overseas Expedition Programmes 2023 - 2025
THE BRITFORD BRIDGE TRUSTFY2024£10kPrimary
THE INGRAM TRUSTFY2022£10k
DUDLEY AND GEOFFREY COX CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£10kYouth and Welfare
THE BRITFORD BRIDGE TRUSTFY2025£10kPrimary
CHK FoundationFY2024£10k
PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£7k
DUDLEY AND GEOFFREY COX CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£6kYouth and Welfare
DUDLEY AND GEOFFREY COX CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£6kYouth and Welfare
JOHNNIE JOHNSON TRUSTFY2023£5k
CHK FoundationFY2023£5k
E B M CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£5k
JOHNNIE JOHNSON TRUSTFY2024£5k
DUDLEY AND GEOFFREY COX CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£4kYouth and Welfare
MISSES BARRIE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2026£2k
LORD BARNBY'S FOUNDATIONFY2025£2k
CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£2k
ETHEL AND GWYNNE MORGAN TRUSTFY2025£1kEducation
MISSES BARRIE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£1k
ETHEL AND GWYNNE MORGAN TRUSTFY2022£500Educational
SOCIAL BUSINESS TRUSTFY2024£132
THE ANTON JURGENS CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022—

Government & lottery funding

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

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The Mercers' Company12/10/2018£20kGrant to British Exploring Society