BEFRIENDERS WORLDWIDE

Registered charity 1146717 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

To improve the emotional and mental health of people who are experiencing feelings of distress and to reduce the incidence of suicide.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£51k
Latest spending
£66k
Registered
2012
Accounts read
FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £15,209 for the year ended 31 December 2024, resulting in total funds decreasing to £90,642. The trustees maintain that unrestricted reserves of £86,413 are sufficient to cover annual operating costs as a minimum. The filing confirms the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Fundraising cost ratio: 39.9% of fundraised income
The charity received income of £25,796 (2023: £25,464) for project management activities which covered project management costs of £10,301 (2023: £9,564) — page 4
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: cover its annual operating cost as a minimum (held: £86k)
It is Befrienders Worldwide's objective to maintain the accumulated reserves to cover its annual operating cost as a minimum. — page 4
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Donation from a trustee
During the year, the charity received a donation of £10,000 from a trustee who has requested that their name not be disclosed in these accounts. The reason for withholding the trustee’s name is to respect the individual’s request for anonymity on personal safety and confidentiality grounds. There were no other related party transactions during this year or the previous year. — page 19
During the year, expenses totalling £9,880 (2023: £nil) were reimbursed to or paid on behalf of trustees in respect of travel, hotel accommodation, conference registration fees, and hospitality, relating to attendance as volunteers at a worldwide conference in Sri Lanka. — page 19
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee expense reimbursement
During the year, the charity received a donation of £10,000 from a trustee who has requested that their name not be disclosed in these accounts. The reason for withholding the trustee’s name is to respect the individual’s request for anonymity on personal safety and confidentiality grounds. There were no other related party transactions during this year or the previous year. — page 19
During the year, expenses totalling £9,880 (2023: £nil) were reimbursed to or paid on behalf of trustees in respect of travel, hotel accommodation, conference registration fees, and hospitality, relating to attendance as volunteers at a worldwide conference in Sri Lanka. — page 19
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

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

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Argentina · Australia · Brazil · China · Cyprus · France · Hong Kong · Hungary · India · Ireland · Italy · Japan

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2024£51k£66k
31/12/2023£40k£58k
31/12/2022£67k£51k
28/02/2022£64k£45k
28/02/2021£51k£42k

Common questions

Is BEFRIENDERS WORLDWIDE financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £15,209 for the year ended 31 December 2024, resulting in total funds decreasing to £90,642. The trustees maintain that unrestricted reserves of £86,413 are sufficient to cover annual operating costs as a minimum. The filing confirms the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Its FY2024 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds BEFRIENDERS WORLDWIDE?

Funders whose own accounts filings name BEFRIENDERS WORLDWIDE as a grant recipient include THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION.

Known funders

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

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATIONFY2023£1k
THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATIONFY2022£1k