The Stratford Upon Avon Astronomical Society
Charity 1054874
Overview
Summary
The Stratford Upon Avon Astronomical Society appears to be a locally rooted, knowledge-sharing organisation that makes astronomy accessible through a combination of expertise, shared resources and opportunities for practical observation. Its role is broader than delivering talks: it seems to create a civic learning infrastructure around a specialist science, connecting public education with equipment, a library and spaces or arrangements for collective participation. The evidence suggests an organisation serving both young people and the wider public, though its actual reach and local partnerships remain unclear.
Operational geography
Coverage: District
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- There is no direct evidence in the consulted current sources that the society delivers services, holds meetings, operates a site, or has a partnership-based delivery presence within any of the supplied Birmingham wards or City Centre.
- The society's current principal in-person meeting venue is Alderminster Village Hall, near Stratford-upon-Avon, outside Birmingham. Its online Zoom option may extend access beyond that locality, but the available evidence does not identify where online participants are based.
- The society states that it has access to an observatory and uses other dark-sky observing sites, but the current locations of those sites are not specified in the evidence reviewed.
- The Coventry address on the Charity Commission record should be treated as a correspondence address rather than evidence of a service site or operational presence in Coventry or Birmingham.
- District is a reasonable interpretation of the organisation's operational identity because its regular, evidenced activity is centred on the Stratford-upon-Avon/Alderminster area; this is not evidence of a Birmingham footprint.
Additional evidence needed
- A current programme, venue booking record, or official event listing showing a meeting, outreach activity, observing session, library service, or equipment service in a named Birmingham ward or City Centre.
- Official information identifying the society's current observatory and regular observing locations.
- Evidence from the society or a Birmingham-based partner of an active, material partnership delivering astronomy activity in Birmingham.
Areas of work
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Education/training
- Environment/conservation/heritage
Who they help
- Children/young People
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Human Resources
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A shared infrastructure for public science
The society appears to operate as more than a lecture provider. By combining advice, equipment, an astronomical library and facilitated observations, it may lower the practical and knowledge barriers that often prevent people from participating in astronomy.
Why it matters
This suggests its distinctive civic value may lie in making a specialist field collectively accessible, rather than simply communicating information about it.
Show evidence
“Promotion and advancement of the education of the public in the science of astronomy through the provision of lectures, advice, equipment, an astronomical Library and facilitation of astronomical observations.”
Source:Organisation“Provides Human Resources, Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space, Provides Advocacy/advice/information.”
Source:Charity Commission
Practical observation is central, not incidental
Facilitating astronomical observations alongside lectures and library access suggests the organisation may emphasise learning through direct experience as well as formal instruction.
Why it matters
This helps distinguish the society from a purely educational or cultural group: it may provide a route from public interest to active scientific engagement.
Show evidence
“Facilitation of astronomical observations.”
Source:Organisation“Education/training, Arts/culture/heritage/science, Environment/conservation/heritage.”
Source:Charity Commission
A potential bridge between generations
Its stated beneficiaries indicate that the society may be positioned to connect children and young people with a wider public learning community, rather than serving a narrowly defined membership group.
Why it matters
If this is reflected in practice, the organisation could be an under-recognised setting for intergenerational science engagement and local mentoring.
Show evidence
“Children/young People, The General Public/mankind.”
Source:Charity Commission“TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THE SCIENCE OF ASTRONOMY PRIMARILY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY IN THE STRATFORD UPON AVON AREA OF THE COUNTY OF WARWICKSHIRE.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether activities are open to non-members and how regularly they take place.
- Which local schools, community groups, venues or scientific organisations the society works with.
- Whether children and young people participate directly or are only included within its stated beneficiary categories.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent programme information, attendance data and membership profile.
- Evidence of partnerships, outreach activity and the use of its equipment, library and observation facilities.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Promotion and advancement of the education of the public in the science of astronomy through the provision of lectures, advice, equipment, an astronomical Library and facilitation of astronomical observations.
Charity objects
TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THE SCIENCE OF ASTRONOMY PRIMARILY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY IN THE STRATFORD UPON AVON AREA OF THE COUNTY OF WARWICKSHIRE