Spotlight on Africa

Registered charity 1117585 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as HARPENDEN SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICA

SoA is focused on the relief of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. It seeks to do this not only by providing financial assistance, but also by promoting the exchange of expertise, learning and friendship with the communities that it works with. The formal objectives of SoA are to advance education, alleviate poverty & unemployment and protect & preserve health for people in sub-Saharan Africa.

Causes: Education/training · The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · Overseas Aid/famine Relief · Economic/community Development/employment · website · Get email alerts

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £70,808 for the year ended 31 March 2025, driven by construction costs for the Namatala Secondary School outpacing incoming donations. Total unrestricted reserves stood at £72,522, which the trustees consider sufficient to cover forecast cash outflows for the coming three months. The charity remains dependent on donor generosity to fund its activities and meet its financial commitments.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Spotlight on Africa (matched by registered charity number).

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Reported reserves equal ~1.5 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (97% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 6.9% of total income — above the median for charities its size (4.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

• Hefin Rees KCchair
• Dr Bethan Rees
• Nadin Plamenova Kaneva
• Paul David Steven Holmes
• Philip Lee Harvey
• Simon James Taylor
• WILLIAM MILES TREASURE · trustee of 1 other charity

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Hertfordshire · Throughout London · Uganda

Income and spending

Common questions

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.