The Learned Society of Wales
What it does
The Learned Society of Wales is the national academy for arts and sciences. Our Fellowship brings together experts from across all academic fields and beyond. We use this collective knowledge to promote research, inspire learning, and provide independent policy advice
Its charitable purposes
THE OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY SHALL BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, TO ADVANCE EDUCATION, LEARNING, ACADEMIC STUDY AND KNOWLEDGE, SO AS TO RESULT IN CONTRIBUTING TO SCIENTIFIC, CULTURAL, SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN WALES AND BEYOND.
Causes
- What it works on
- Education and training
- Arts, culture, heritage and science
- Who it helps
- The general public
- How it works
- Provides services
- Provides advocacy, advice or information
- Sponsors or carries out research
Where it works
- Elsewhere
- Throughout England and Wales
Income and spending
In the year ending 31 July 2025, it had income of £735,584 and spent £644,806.
| Year ending | Income | Spending | Paid staff | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 July 2025 | £735,584 | £644,806 | 11 | Not reported |
| 31 July 2024 | £639,365 | £645,324 | 9 | Not reported |
| 31 July 2023 | £548,871 | £569,581 | 7 | Not reported |
| 31 July 2022 | £380,401 | £352,902 | Not reported | Not reported |
| 31 July 2021 | £304,258 | £295,412 | Not reported | Not reported |
Financial position
Separate measures from the charity's own returns and accounts, each with its year. Read them together: no single measure says how well a charity is run.
- Income over time
- Up 142%, from £304,258 in the year to 31 July 2021 to £735,584 in the year to 31 July 2025.
- Spending against income
- It spent 88% of its income in the year to 31 July 2025. It spent more than its income in 2 of the 5 years shown.
- Largest funder
- Medr gave £316,000 in the year to 31 July 2025, 43% of that year's income.
Government funding, as the charity reported it
Government grants in the year ending 31 July 2025: £317,700 from 2 grants. Government contracts: Not reported.
| Year ending | Government grants | Government contracts |
|---|---|---|
| 31 July 2025 | £317,700 from 2 grants | Not reported |
| 31 July 2024 | £291,067 from 2 grants | Not reported |
| 31 July 2023 | £175,659 from 3 grants | Not reported |
| 31 July 2022 | £103,264 from 1 grant | Not reported |
| 31 July 2021 | £12,458 from 1 grant | Not reported |
Where its income came from in the year ending 31 July 2025
- Donations and legacies£216,709
- Charitable activities, including grants and contracts for its work£503,317
- Investments£15,558
Who funds it, according to its accounts
In its accounts for the year ending 31 July 2025, the charity named 13 funders who gave £503,317 between them. £317,700 of that came from public bodies.
These figures were read from the accounts the charity filed with the Charity Commission by Claude, an AI model, in OpenEconomy's accounts reader. AI can misread a table, so check the accounts on the register before relying on a figure.
| Funder | Type | Jul 2025 | Jul 2024 | Jul 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medr | Other public body | £316,000 | ||
| Cardiff University | Trust, company or other | £50,000 | £50,000 | £50,000 |
| Swansea University | Trust, company or other | £30,205 | £29,613 | £29,050 |
| Bangor University | Trust, company or other | £30,205 | £29,613 | £28,750 |
| Cardiff Metropolitan University | Trust, company or other | £16,547 | £16,223 | £15,750 |
| Aberystwyth University | Trust, company or other | £16,547 | £16,223 | £15,750 |
| University of South Wales | Trust, company or other | £16,547 | £16,223 | £15,750 |
| University of Wales Trinity Saint David | Trust, company or other | £9,637 | £15,450 | £15,000 |
| Academi Heddwch Cymru | Trust, company or other | £6,000 | ||
| Wrexham Glyndwr University | Trust, company or other | £5,516 | £5,408 | |
| Open University in Wales | Trust, company or other | £4,413 | £4,326 | £4,200 |
| Welsh Government | Welsh Government | £1,700 | £15,622 | £32,332 |
| Higher Education Funding Council for Wales | Other public body | £275,445 | £171,959 | |
| Universities Wales | Trust, company or other | £20,000 | ||
| Taran Therapeutics | Trust, company or other | £14,000 | ||
| Humanigen | Trust, company or other | £13,000 | ||
| South Wales Institute of Engineers Educational Trust | Trust, company or other | £3,800 | £3,800 | |
| Wrexham Glyndŵr University | Trust, company or other | £5,250 | ||
| British Academy | Trust, company or other | £500 |
Grants awarded to it, published on 360Giving
No grants to this charity appear in 360Giving data.
Payments from public bodies, from their spending data
Public bodies' published spending shows 1 payment to this charity worth £30,000, on 30 March 2023.
| Public body | Paid | Payments | Financial years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welsh Government | £30,000 | 1 | 2022/23 |
In council meetings
Council business that names this charity, from the records councils publish, gathered by OpenCouncil. Newest first.
27 November 2025, Ceredigion
Named in an agenda item or minute of Council
Chair Announcements
In the Senedd and Welsh Government
Senedd and Welsh Government records that name this charity, gathered by OpenSenedd. Newest first.
25 May 2026
Named in a registered interest of Sioned Williams, Member of the Senedd
Category: Voluntary record of Members’ other interests.
Information relevant to entry: Spouse - Fellow – The Learned Society of Wales
15 May 2025
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: MinFHE
Purpose: Learned Society of Wales.
Learned Society of Wales
3 June 2024
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Cabsec EEWL
Purpose: Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru/Learned Society of Wales.
Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru/Learned Society of Wales
26 April 2024
Named in a written question from Paul Davies
Addressed to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language.
…between Cyhoeddi Cymru and Publishing Ireland, and in turn Irish and Welsh publishers for the benefit of the Welsh economy. £2,400.00 The Learned Society of Wales A pilot scheme to support collaborative fellowship research projects focussed on 'culture, language and heritage'. £15,000.00 Menai Scien…
6 February 2024
Named in a written question from Cefin Campbell
Addressed to the Minister for Economy.
…between Cyhoeddi Cymru and Publishing Ireland, and in turn Irish and Welsh publishers for the benefit of the Welsh economy. £2,400.00 The Learned Society of Wales A pilot scheme with the Royal Irish Academy to support two collaborative fellowship research projects focussed on 'culture, language and…
31 January 2024
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Min for EWL
Purpose: Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru/Learned Society of Wales.
Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru/Learned Society of Wales
30 November 2023
Named by Lewis Dean in the Senedd
To just give a little bit of detail on that, a report commissioned by the Learned Society of Wales and co-sponsored by the Wales innovation network, which examined the impact case studies submitted to the REF 2021 exercise, highlighted that 42 per cent of the 280 case studies had economic impact, an…
30 November 2023
Named by Harriet Barnes in the Senedd
I could make a start from the point of view of—. So, one of the bodies we also fund is the Learned Society of Wales, who’ve recently produced this report, 'Making an Impact', which is very much designed to do that, celebrating the impact that research in Wales has. That is based on the analysis of t…
26 October 2023
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Min for EWL
Purpose: Seremoni Wobrwyo Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru/Learned Society of Wales Awards Ceremony.
Seremoni Wobrwyo Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru/Learned Society of Wales Awards Ceremony
10 May 2023
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: First Minister
Purpose: Cyfarfod gyda Chymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru / Meeting with the Learned Society of Wales.
Cyfarfod gyda Chymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru / Meeting with the Learned Society of Wales
8 November 2022
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Min for Social Justice
Purpose: The Learned Society of Wales Event.
The Learned Society of Wales Event
10 October 2022
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Min for Economy
Purpose: Professor Hywel Thomas, President of the Learned Society of Wales.
Professor Hywel Thomas, President of the Learned Society of Wales
5 October 2022
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: First Minister
Purpose: President of The Learned Society of Wales.
President of The Learned Society of Wales
24 March 2022
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: First Minister
Purpose: President of the Learned Society of Wales.
President of the Learned Society of Wales
9 March 2022
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Min for Economy
Purpose: President of Learned Society of Wales.
President of Learned Society of Wales
9 December 2021
Named by Jayne Bryant in the Senedd
…session, who are David Notley, who is the co-chair of the Innovation Advisory Council for Wales, Professor Hywel Thomas, president of the Learned Society of Wales, and Professor Helen Fulton, vice-president for humanities, arts and social sciences, the Learned Society of Wales. You're all very welco…
9 December 2021
Named by Sioned Williams in the Senedd
My husband is employed by Swansea University. He is also a Member of the University and College Union and he is a fellow of the Learned Society of Wales. Mae fy ngŵr yn gyflogedig gan Brifysgol Abertawe. Mae e hefyd yn aelod o'r Undeb Prifysgol a Choleg, ac mae e'n gymrawd o Gymdeithas Ddysgedig Cym…
9 December 2021
Named by Yr Athro Hywel Thomas in the Senedd
…ing—I'm very well aware of some of the people that David works with; in fact, Rick Delbridge is a special adviser to the president of the Learned Society of Wales i.e. myself, so we have many things in common—but the route that we would see that would be the best way forward on this is related more…
18 November 2021
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Min for E WL
Purpose: Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru/The Learned Society of Wales.
Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru/The Learned Society of Wales
10 November 2021
Named by Owain Roberts in the Senedd
…can tell Wales's story beyond. There are links, of course, with the Welsh people abroad. If we look at the work that's been done with the Learned Society of Wales, looking at soft power, I think that there are opportunities there for Wales, and, of course, the digital dimension and the availability…
19 October 2021
Named by Vaughan Gething in the Senedd
…r replacement European funds. And I spoke to the Wales innovation network of Welsh universities, looking at innovation, together with the Learned Society of Wales, and they're genuinely anxious about there not being a plan about how they can continue to be funded for the work they do—not just the ac…
4 August 2021
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Min for EWL
Purpose: Llywydd Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru / President of the Learned Society of Wales.
Llywydd Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru / President of the Learned Society of Wales
4 August 2021
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: First Minister
Purpose: President of the Learned Society of Wales.
President of the Learned Society of Wales
Trustees
22 trustees run the charity.
- Dr Sarah Jane Clyburn
- Elizabeth Tulip Treasure
- Professor Ambreena Manji
- Professor Angharad Puw Davies
- Professor Dame Elan Closs Stephens
- Professor David Ewart George Boucher
- Professor Faron George Moller
- Professor Helen Rosemary Griffiths
- Professor Karin Wahl-Jorgensen
- Professor Kirsti Bohata
- Professor Matthew Joseph Griffin
- Professor Mererid Puw Davies
- Professor Michael Charles Radcliffe Davies
- Professor Michael Ivor Reed
- Professor Pedr ap Llwyd
- Professor Rachel Elizabeth Ashworth
- Professor Raluca Luria Radulescu
- Professor Robert Jeffrey Beynon
- Professor SARA ELIN ROBERTS
- Professor Sir Deian Rhys Hopkin
- Professor Siwan Manon Davies
- Professor Venkateswarlu Kanamarlapudi
Filing record
Of the last 5 annual returns that were due, 5 arrived by the deadline.
| Year ending | Due | Annual return | Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 July 2025 | 31 May 2026 | Received 27 April 2026, 34 days early | Received 27 April 2026 |
| 31 July 2024 | 31 May 2025 | Received 23 April 2025, 38 days early | Received 23 April 2025 |
| 31 July 2023 | 31 May 2024 | Received 21 May 2024, 10 days early | Received 21 May 2024 |
| 31 July 2022 | 31 May 2023 | Received 1 March 2023, 91 days early | Received 1 March 2023 |
| 31 July 2021 | 31 May 2022 | Received 4 May 2022, 27 days early | Received 4 May 2022 |
About this charity
- Charity number
- 1168622
- Status
- Registered
- Registered with the Commission
- 5 August 2016
- Governing document
- ROYAL CHARTER GRANTED 28 SEP 2015
- Website
- www.learnedsociety.wales
- Council area of its contact address
- Cardiff
Sources
- Register details, income, spending, trustees and filing dates: Charity Commission for England and Wales, register of charities. Loaded by OpenEconomy on 2 November 2026.
- Funding from accounts: the charity's filed accounts, read by OpenEconomy's AI accounts reader on 1 November 2026.
- Grants awarded: 360Giving open grants data, from funders that publish there, as loaded by OpenEconomy.
- Payments from public bodies: each body's own published spending data, matched to the charity by OpenEconomy. 5 public bodies' data is included so far.
- In council meetings: councils' published meeting records, gathered by OpenCouncil and matched to the charity by OpenEconomy on 4 November 2026.
- In the Senedd and Welsh Government: records gathered by OpenSenedd and matched to the charity by OpenEconomy on 5 November 2026.
Elsewhere in the Edau family
- OpenCouncil: council records that name this charity
- OpenSenedd: Senedd records that name this charity
- OpenCouncil: Cardiff Council's meetings and decisions
- OpenEconomy: Cardiff's economy in figures
- OpenSenedd: the Members of the Senedd for Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf
- OpenSenedd: the Members of the Senedd for Caerdydd Penarth