HORSEWORLD TRUST
Ensuring quality of life for horses ponies & donkeys by providing a healthy & secure future. Operating an effective rescue rehabilitation & rehoming programme actively promoting & encouranging responsible equine ownership. Supporting & working closely with local communities & organisations. Educating children with emotional behavioural & learning difficulties through our Discovery Programme.
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure of £0.78m for the year, driven by a drop in legacy income and increased welfare costs, despite a £0.39m gain on investments. The trustees note that expenditure currently exceeds income and is unsustainable in the medium term, though they aim to reach a break-even position by 2028 through strategic growth and fundraising. General unrestricted reserves of £1.9m are reported as below the stated policy target range of £2.0m to £2.4m.
What the accounts disclose
“One employee received emoluments between £60,000 and £70,000 and one employee received emoluments between £70,000 and £80,000”
“One employee received emoluments between £60,000 and £70,000 and one employee received emoluments between £70,000 and £80,000”
“57% of the total income in 2024 was derived from legacies”
“The cost of raising funds rose by 2% from 19.6% to 21.6%.”
“the current year balance of £1.9m is below the minimum but the intention is to rebuild to meet the target in coming years.”
“The charity used the services of TLT LLP Solicitors, a company in which Kerry Gwyther (trustee) is a partner. The charity was charged £2,040 (2023: £2,518) for legal advice” — page 54
“The Charity has one wholly owned subsidiary, HorseRescue Limited (registered company number 3519561). The subsidiary was previously used for non-primary purpose trading activities but does not currently trade.”
Year-over-year changes
- Top pay band moved from £90,001 - £100,000 (FY2023) to £70,001 - £80,000 (FY2024).
What the charity says about itself (2025)
“In 2025, we took in 59 horses, including 46 rescues — a 90% increase on the previous year.”
“In 2025, we raised £1.1 million to support the care of hundreds of horses and to provide life-changing opportunities for 270 young people through our Discovery programme”
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)
Trustees
- LESLIE BARBARA DILLINGHAMchair
- ANDREW DOWDEN
- Annette Katarina Newman
- Duncan Graham Attwell
- Duncan John Ballard
- Emmaline Pell
- JOHN LOWTON NEWMAN
- Julie Alicia White
- KERRY GWYTHER
- MICHAEL NEALE
- Nigel Daniel
- Professor Cathryn Mitchell
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2024 | £1.2m | £2.3m |
| 31/12/2023 | £2.2m | £2.2m |
| 31/12/2022 | £1.7m | £2.2m |
| 31/12/2021 | £1.4m | £1.9m |
| 31/12/2020 | £869k | £1.6m |
Common questions
Is HORSEWORLD TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure of £0.78m for the year, driven by a drop in legacy income and increased welfare costs, despite a £0.39m gain on investments. The trustees note that expenditure currently exceeds income and is unsustainable in the medium term, though they aim to reach a break-even position by 2028 through strategic growth and fundraising. General unrestricted reserves of £1.9m are reported as below the stated policy target range of £2.0m to £2.4m. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Saffery LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of HORSEWORLD TRUST earn?
Per its FY2024 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £70,001 - £80,000 band, and 2 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds HORSEWORLD TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name HORSEWORLD TRUST as a grant recipient include THE PETS AT HOME FOUNDATION, SIR PETER O'SULLEVAN CHARITABLE TRUST, BETTY PHILLIPS CHARITABLE TRUST, THE ROSE ANIMAL WELFARE TRUST CIO, JOHN JAMES BRISTOL FOUNDATION.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE PETS AT HOME FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £50k | Animal Assistance |
| SIR PETER O'SULLEVAN CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £20k | Grants for specific projects and other good causes committed and paid during the year |
| BETTY PHILLIPS CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £20k | emergency care and rescue facility improvements |
| THE ROSE ANIMAL WELFARE TRUST CIO | FY2025 | £15k | |
| JOHN JAMES BRISTOL FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £10k | Education - Others |
| THE WESTMINSTER FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £10k | Salary costs for Discovery programme equine assisted learning for young people at risk of being NEET. |
| THE WESTMINSTER FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £10k | Salary costs for Discovery programme equine assisted learning for young people at risk of being NEET. |
| PETPLAN CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £5k | Equine Field Shelter |
| THE BERYL EVETTS AND ROBERT LUFF ANIMAL WELFARE TRUST LIMITED | FY2022 | £5k | |
| MRS D M FRANCE-HAYHURST FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £5k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 19/02/2021 | £10k | Discovery equine-assisted early intervention - covid response |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 19/10/2018 | £9k | Discovery at HorseWorld |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 27/10/2011 | £9k | HorseWorld Discovery Course - Discover Horses, Discover Yourself |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE RACING FOUNDATION | 2 | £79k |
| M J CAMP CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 2 | £14k |
| THE SERTH AND GATES CHARITY | 1 | £258k |
| THE ROTHERMERE FOUNDATION | 1 | £36k |
| THE STRATTON NO2 CHARITABLE FUND | 1 | £30k |
| The Trevor Hemmings Foundation | 1 | £29k |
| RETRAINING OF RACE HORSES | 1 | £26k |
| THE LADY COBHAM FOUNDATION | 1 | £25k |
Charities like this
- THE HORSE TRUST
- HORSE RESCUE FUND
- THE FFOREST UCHAF HORSE AND PONY REHABILITATION CENTRE CHARITABLE TRUST
- SHY LOWEN HORSE AND PONY SANCTUARY
- HORSES AND PONIES PROTECTION ASSOCIATION
- HOPTON REHAB & HOMING CENTRE
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HORSEWORLD TRUST | £1.2m | £70,001 - £80,000 | 2 | below | 21.6% | no doubt |
| THE HORSE TRUST | £2.7m | £120,001 - £130,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| HORSE RESCUE FUND | £102k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE FFOREST UCHAF HORSE AND PONY REHABILITATION CENTRE CHARITABLE TRUST | £130k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SHY LOWEN HORSE AND PONY SANCTUARY | £242k | — | 0 | unclear | — | noted |
| HORSES AND PONIES PROTECTION ASSOCIATION | £1.1m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |