SPONSOR A GAMBIAN CHILD
The principle activity of the charity is the furthering of education in The Republic of the Gambia through the sponsorship of primary and secondary school age children.
Objects
TO PROMOTE EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF GAMBIA THROUGH SPONSORSHIP OF CHILDREN OF PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND UNIVERSITY AGE AND TO SUPPORT OTHER GENERAL FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES WITH THE AIM OF PROVIDING FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity operates on a very frugal cost base with unrestricted cash reserves of £18,736 at the year end. The charity is run entirely by volunteers with no staff employed, resulting in minimal administrative costs of £780 against total receipts of £153,260. The independent examiner confirmed that no material matters came to their attention regarding the accounts.
What the accounts disclose
“The principal source of raising funds is donations received from sponsors. The sponsor will donate monies equivalent to the cost of educating a child in the Gambia for a year.” — page 7
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/08/2025
- Volunteers: 1
- Grant-making is its main activity
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/08/2024
- Volunteers: 3
- Grant-making is its main activity
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/08/2023
- Grant-making is its main activity
Annual return filing dates (Charity Commission record)
Of its last 5 annual returns with a recorded received date, 2 were received after the due date: year ending 31/08/2022 (received 04/06/2024, 340 days after the 30/06/2023 due date); year ending 31/08/2021 (received 04/01/2023, 188 days after the 30/06/2022 due date).
Trustees
- CAROL MARGARET KENDALL-SMITHchair
- JONATHAN BLUNDELL
- Richard Kendall-Smith
- THOMAS IAN KENDALL-SMITH
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/08/2025 | £77k | £60k |
| 31/08/2024 | £61k | £64k |
| 31/08/2023 | £68k | £73k |
| 31/08/2022 | £81k | £73k |
| 31/08/2021 | £86k | £91k |
Common questions
Is SPONSOR A GAMBIAN CHILD financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity operates on a very frugal cost base with unrestricted cash reserves of £18,736 at the year end. The charity is run entirely by volunteers with no staff employed, resulting in minimal administrative costs of £780 against total receipts of £153,260. The independent examiner confirmed that no material matters came to their attention regarding the accounts. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| PHILIP KING CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £104k |
| ALLAN AND NESTA FERGUSON CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT | 1 | £8k |
| THE ASHWORTH CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £3k |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ALL SAINTS, FULHAM | 1 | £2k |
| THE AUSTIN BAILEY FOUNDATION | 1 | £1k |
Charities like this
- GIVING OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE AND LEARN FOR THE GAMBIA
- GAMBIA SCHOOL SUPPORT
- PROJECT GAMBIA
- BACE
- The Gambian Schools Trust
- HELP FOR EDUCATION AND LOCAL PROJECTS IN THE GAMBIA
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPONSOR A GAMBIAN CHILD | £77k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| GIVING OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE AND LEARN FOR THE GAMBIA | £75k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| GAMBIA SCHOOL SUPPORT | £157k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| PROJECT GAMBIA | £47k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BACE | £48k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| The Gambian Schools Trust | £37k | — | 0 | above | — | noted |