WAR CHILD
War Child protects, educates and stands up for the rights of children in war. We work in 14 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. We understand children's needs, respect their rights, and support their recovery; from providing education for displaced children, to reintegrating child soldiers or promoting justice for children in detention to providing livelihood options.
Objects
1. TO BRING RELIEF TO PERSONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHO ARE SUFFERING HARDSHIP SICKNESS OR DISTRESS AS A RESULT OF WAR AND IN PARTICULAR (BUT WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING) TO BRING SUCH RELIEF TO CHILDREN WHO ARE SO SUFFERING; 2. TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THE EFFECTS OF WAR ESPECIALLY THE EFFECTS OF WAR ON CHILDREN.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that War Child UK generated a net surplus of £1.5m for the year, with unrestricted net current assets totaling £5.4m. The trustees confirm that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, maintaining six months' cover in line with its reserves policy. The organization reports no material uncertainties relating to its ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“We also increased our fundraising expenditure by £1.6m to £5.8m.”
“the desired level of free reserves is a minimum of four months and a maximum of nine months of core costs.”
“War Child Australia received a loan of £40,669 from War Child in 2018 which will be reviewed again in 2026 to agree when this will be paid back.”
“In 2025, War Child UK granted £5,296,000 of restricted funds, £221,000 of designated funds and £5,742,000 of unrestricted funds to the War Child Alliance Foundation.” — page 58
“War Child Australia received a loan of £40,669 from War Child in 2018 which will be reviewed again in 2026 to agree when this will be paid back.”
“In 2025, War Child UK granted £5,296,000 of restricted funds, £221,000 of designated funds and £5,742,000 of unrestricted funds to the War Child Alliance Foundation.” — page 58
“War Child Australia received a loan of £40,669 from War Child in 2018 which will be reviewed again in 2026 to agree when this will be paid back.”
“In 2025, War Child UK granted £5,296,000 of restricted funds, £221,000 of designated funds and £5,742,000 of unrestricted funds to the War Child Alliance Foundation.” — page 58
“War Child Australia received a loan of £40,669 from War Child in 2018 which will be reviewed again in 2026 to agree when this will be paid back.”
“In 2025, War Child UK granted £5,296,000 of restricted funds, £221,000 of designated funds and £5,742,000 of unrestricted funds to the War Child Alliance Foundation.” — page 58
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investment
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025
- Volunteers: 40
- Government income: £3,012,000 — grants £3,012,000 (5); 15% of the £19,831,000 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 14 (£60,001–£70,000: 7; £70,001–£80,000: 3; £80,001–£90,000: 3; £90,001–£100,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
- Grant-making is its main activity
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024
- Volunteers: 40
- Government income: £1,401,436 — grants £1,401,436 (5); 11% of the £13,091,000 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 8 (£60,001–£70,000: 5; £70,001–£80,000: 2; £90,001–£100,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
- Grant-making is its main activity
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023
- Government income: £229,758 — grants £229,758 (3); 1% of the £18,896,000 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 11 (£60,001–£70,000: 4; £70,001–£80,000: 4; £80,001–£90,000: 2; £130,001–£140,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
Advertised salaries (public job ads)
- Head of Compliance & Supporter Care (Maternity Cover) — circa £55,000 per year (full-time equivalent)
- Supporter Care Assistant — £28,900 per year
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (23/08/2019)
Trustees
- Caroline Browne
- Cleo Blackman
- James Briggs
- Maria Kathryn Panayi
- Mel Exon
- Shruti Mehrotra
- Siobhan King
- Tara Nayagi Heera Rajah
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £19.8m | £18.3m |
| 31/12/2024 | £13.1m | £12.7m |
| 31/12/2023 | £18.9m | £19.7m |
| 31/12/2022 | £19.1m | £17.0m |
| 31/12/2021 | £14.8m | £14.5m |
Common questions
Is WAR CHILD financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that War Child UK generated a net surplus of £1.5m for the year, with unrestricted net current assets totaling £5.4m. The trustees confirm that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, maintaining six months' cover in line with its reserves policy. The organization reports no material uncertainties relating to its ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.
Who funds WAR CHILD?
Funders whose own accounts filings name WAR CHILD as a grant recipient include THE MATERIAL WORLD FOUNDATION LIMITED, THE THOMPSON FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST, THE MAHORO CHARITABLE TRUST, BERNARD LEWIS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST, THE KARLSSON JATIVA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postcode Lottery | 10/02/2025 | £3.0m | Regular Grant 2025 |
| Postcode Lottery | 01/12/2023 | £3.0m | Regular Grant 2024 |
| Postcode Lottery | 28/02/2023 | £3.4m | Regular Grant 2023 |
| Postcode Lottery | 09/02/2022 | £3.0m | Regular Grant 2022 |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 02/04/2007 | £6k | Which disadvantaged young people have least access to justice in Northern U |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE S M B TRUST | 2 | £7k |
| START NETWORK | 1 | £1.3m |
| THE DISTILLERS' CHARITY | 1 | £805k |
| THE ICELAND FOODS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £738k |
| THE PRUDENCE TRUST | 1 | £535k |
| PROJECT GIVING BACK | 1 | £287k |
| THE PEARS FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £250k |
| INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S PALLIATIVE CARE NETWORK | 1 | £244k |
Charities like this
- ACTION FOR CHILDREN
- CHILDREN'S AID
- WORLD CHILD CANCER UK
- KIDS FOR KIDS
- CHILD POVERTY ACTION GROUP
- Save a Child
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAR CHILD | £19.8m | — | — | within | 29.3% | no doubt |
| ACTION FOR CHILDREN | £163.4m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CHILDREN'S AID | £377k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| WORLD CHILD CANCER UK | £3.7m | — | — | below | — | no doubt |
| KIDS FOR KIDS | £666k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CHILD POVERTY ACTION GROUP | £6.3m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |