Mond Trust Committee – Response to Consultation Survey Findings
We – the Mond Trust Committee members – are grateful to everyone who took the time to respond to the recent consultation about the proposal to introduce a new Scheme which governs the Mond Trust.
We are encouraged by the widespread recognition of the importance and impact of the Royal Institution’s work, and therefore the importance of the Mond Trust and 20 Albemarle St (20AS) in enabling that work. We will continue to frame our decisions on responsible stewardship of a nationally significant building, ensuring that financial resilience underpins, rather than replaces, charitable purpose.
We agree that research and communication about science were fundamental to Ludwig Mond’s intent in making his gift. The proposals are not designed to move away from this, but to ensure that the buildings can actively support the charitable purposes into the future. While the Ri has not conducted scientific research itself for several decades, and 20 Albemarle St is not very well suited to modern scientific research, we recognise the importance of maintaining a genuine scientific presence within its activities and spaces.
We understand the concern that increased flexibility could lead to a disconnect between the Mond Trust’s aims and the Ri’s purpose, and we want to be clear that this is not the intention. Commercial activity is a means of sustaining 20 Albemarle St and the Ri’s mission, not an end in itself. In practice, this means:
- avoiding uses that conflict with the Ri’s values or reputation,
- resisting inappropriate conversions (such as residential use), and
- maintaining a preference for tenants and activities that can, directly or indirectly, contribute to science and public engagement.
We recognise that much of the support expressed during the consultation period is conditional on strong governance safeguards, and we agree that these are essential. The Mond Trust and Royal Institution are both charitable organisations and hence their resources are dedicated to achieving their mission rather than profit. We will continue to take independent advice on legal, financial and property matters, and reaffirm our commitment to transparent annual reporting and robust conflict of interest management. Maintenance, repair and conservation of 20AS will remain the first call in any income in the new scheme. This approach is designed to ensure that financial resilience does not come at the cost of mission integrity.
At a time when science is radically reshaping our world, from climate innovation to AI, vaccines and space exploration, it’s crucial that everyone has the opportunity to engage with science.
Mond Trust Committee, 29 June 2026