The Governance RegisterEdition 2026 · Compiled 12th July 2026

The British Council

Registered charity 209131 Registered since 1963

Public bodyNDPB-executive · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Operates: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia And Herzegovina

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Board DNA

How this board is put together, from Charity Commission trustee records and Companies House - deterministic, no AI.

12
trustees on the board
3y median 2.5y
average tenure
6y
longest tenure
2
trustees past 6 years
8.5y
average years in governance
9 vs 1 portfolio
first-time trustees
5
company-linked trustees

Sector coverage

Education/training 12Arts/culture/heritage/science 10Overseas Aid/famine Relief 10General Charitable Purposes 1Other Charitable Purposes 1The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives 1The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty 1

Commercial experience

Education 5Property 5Business services 4

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Related organisations

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Contact

Websitewww.britishcouncil.org
EmailCEO.Office@britishcouncil.org
Phone(0)161 884 0291
Address1 Redman Place, Stratford, London, United Kingdom, E20 1JQ

Finances

£1,010,444,268 latest income

YearIncomeSpending
2021£924,965,472£1,015,114,434
2022£896,655,974£942,310,549
2023£873,334,827£925,158,978
2024£989,335,930£1,054,737,848
2025£1,010,444,268£1,053,798,262

What it does

What

Education/trainingOverseas Aid/famine ReliefArts/culture/heritage/scienceOther Charitable Purposes

Who

The General Public/mankind

How

Makes Grants To IndividualsMakes Grants To OrganisationsProvides ServicesActs As An Umbrella Or Resource BodyOther Charitable Activities

Charitable objects

THE OBJECTS FOR WHICH THE BRITISH COUNCIL IS ESTABLISHED AND INCORPORATED ARE TO ADVANCE, FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, ANY PURPOSE WHICH IS EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE AND WHICH SHALL:(A) PROMOTE CULTURAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OTHER COUNTRIES;(B) DEVELOP A WIDER KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE; AND(C) ENCOURAGE EDUCATIONAL CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OTHER COUNTRIES, SUPPORT THE ADVANCEMENT OF UNITED KINGDOM EDUCATION AND EDUCATION STANDARDS OVERSEAS, AND OTHERWISE PROMOTE EDUCATION.

Governing document: ROYAL CHARTER GRANTED 07/10/1940AS AMENDED BY SUPPLEMENTAL CHARTER DATED 26/11/1993AS AMENDED BY ORDER IN COUNCIL DATED 22/07/1976AS AMENDED BY ORDER IN COUNCIL DATED 05/10/1983AS AMENDED BY ORDER IN COUNCIL DATED 27/10/1993AS AMENDED BY ORDER IN COUNCIL DATED 04/12/1984AS AMENDED BY ORDER IN COUNCIL DATED 16/07/2002AS AMENDED BY ORDER IN COUNCIL DATED 08/06/2011AS AMENDED BY ORDER IN COUNCIL DATED 15 DEC 2021 as amended on 26 Oct 2021

Trustees (12)

12trustees
60median age
0aged 70+

Connected charities (4)

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