The Dark Sky Observatory

The Dark Sky Observatory is a registered education nonprofit based in Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. It was founded in 2011 and has been operating for 15 years. Its registration number is SC042329. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 51/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports £246K in annual revenue.

The Dark Sky Observatory's official registration number is SC042329, as recorded in the national registry of United Kingdom.

The Dark Sky Observatory has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 51/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 51 ('Partial transparency') means some public data is on file but key signals are missing - worth a closer look before donating. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for education charities in United Kingdom is 86/100.

The Dark Sky Observatory is located in Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. The organization was established in 2011 and has been active for 15 years.

Based on official tax filings, The Dark Sky Observatory has £246K in annual revenue. Its revenue is below the peer average of £994K. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

The Dark Sky Observatory is classified as an Education organization, registered in United Kingdom. It operates as a Charitable Company. It has £246K in annual revenue.

According to GiveRadar's records, The Dark Sky Observatory is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales and overseen by the Charity Commission. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.

Our charity was was formed to facilitate the advancement of science, education, the arts and environmental protection to be achieved by the construction of a new astronomical observatory to complement the Galloway Forest Park's 'International Dark-Sky Association 'gold tier' Dark Sky Park status (awarded 2009). Our former facility, which opened to the public in January 2013, suffered a devastating fire in June 2021. Since that time we have been focussed on settling our insurance claim, we have purchased a new premises in a much more advantageous location, appointed an architect and formed our Design Team. In December 2025 we submitted our application for planning consent to redevelop and extend the... The Dark Sky Observatory is classified as an education organization registered in United Kingdom. The organization was founded in 2011.

Among education charities registered in United Kingdom: Its annual revenue of £246K is below the peer average of £994K.

The Dark Sky Observatory is a charitable company limited by guarantee, the most common incorporated form for UK charities. It is registered with both Companies House and the Charity Commission, and must file annual accounts with both regulators. Directors (who are also charity trustees) have limited liability. Its Charity Commission registration number is SC042329.

You can verify The Dark Sky Observatory in several ways. First, search the Charity Commission Register at https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/ - every charity registered in England and Wales appears here with its registration number, trustees, governing document, and filed accounts. Because this is a charitable company, you can also check its filings on Companies House (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/). Second, check whether the charity's annual return and accounts are up to date - the Commission flags charities with overdue filings. Third, look for the Fundraising Regulator badge on the charity's website, which signals voluntary compliance with the Code of Fundraising Practice.

Contact The Dark Sky Observatory directly for current donation methods. UK charities typically accept online card payments, direct debit, and bank transfer. Many also use platforms such as JustGiving or Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). If you are a UK taxpayer, make sure to tick the Gift Aid box: it lets the charity reclaim 25p from HMRC for every pound you give at no extra cost to you. Higher-rate taxpayers can claim back the difference between basic-rate and their marginal rate through Self Assessment. Payroll Giving (Give As You Earn) lets you donate pre-tax through your employer.

Donations to The Dark Sky Observatory are eligible for Gift Aid if you are a UK income-tax or capital-gains-tax payer. Gift Aid adds 25% to your donation at no cost to you (the charity reclaims basic-rate tax from HMRC). Higher-rate and additional-rate taxpayers can also claim back the difference through Self Assessment or by adjusting their PAYE tax code. Gifts of shares, property, or land to charity are free of Capital Gains Tax and can be deducted from your income for Income Tax purposes. Legacy gifts (in your will) reduce the value of your estate for Inheritance Tax and can lower the IHT rate from 40% to 36% if you leave at least 10% to charity.

The Dark Sky Observatory is based in Ayrshire in Scotland. The Charity Commission for England and Wales (CCEW) is the primary regulator. Scotland has its own regulator (OSCR), and Northern Ireland has the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI). A charity registered with the CCEW may operate across the whole of the UK or internationally.

The Dark Sky Observatory was first registered in 2011, making it approximately 15 years old. UK charities must file an annual return with the Charity Commission to remain on the register. A long registration history generally indicates sustained operations and continuous regulatory compliance.