SAFE PASSAGE INTERNATIONAL
We have a strategic legal focus, working to ensure refugees seeking asylum have material access to safe and legal routes to protection and a dignified life. We champion refugees' rights to legal safe passage through direct casework, strategic legal work, advocacy, capacity building and community organising to effect systemic change in European refugee policy; with offices in UK, France and Greece
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £646,259 for the year ended 31 December 2025, resulting in a closing funds balance of £956,311. The trustees note that unrestricted funds accounted for £885,076, which they state is in line with their reserves policy of holding four months of operating costs. The charity acknowledges the need to redouble fundraising efforts to sustain activities in a challenging financial environment.
What the accounts disclose
“Based on these elements, the level of the reserves required for the whole organisation is 4 months operating costs. Free unrestricted reserves in the balance sheet at the year-ended 31 December 2025 stand at £870,173 (31 December 2024 they stood at £1,107,434) not including restricted funds, designated funds and fixed assets. These reserves at the end of the year represented 4 months of operating costs.”
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Jo Cobley — CEO
- Nicola Sturgeon — Chair
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (29/03/2022)
Trustees
- Ioannis Papageorgiou
- JASON RABINOWITZ
- Lateef Olanrewaju Amao
- Laura Griffiths
- Lusine Manukyan
- Nicola Sturgeon
- Patricia Levi Hicks Whaley
- TIMOTHY STEVENS
- Thomas Wyer
- Zoe Ryann Bantleman
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £1.9m | £2.6m |
| 31/12/2024 | £2.4m | £2.5m |
| 31/12/2023 | £2.4m | £1.9m |
| 31/12/2022 | £1.9m | £1.9m |
| 31/12/2021 | £1.7m | £1.4m |
Common questions
Is SAFE PASSAGE INTERNATIONAL financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £646,259 for the year ended 31 December 2025, resulting in a closing funds balance of £956,311. The trustees note that unrestricted funds accounted for £885,076, which they state is in line with their reserves policy of holding four months of operating costs. The charity acknowledges the need to redouble fundraising efforts to sustain activities in a challenging financial environment. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent LLP.
Who funds SAFE PASSAGE INTERNATIONAL?
Funders whose own accounts filings name SAFE PASSAGE INTERNATIONAL as a grant recipient include THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST, THE SIMMONS AND SIMMONS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION, THE SENECA TRUST, THE CHILDHOOD TRUST.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| A B Charitable Trust | 05/06/2026 | £40k | A grant to Safe Passage International |
| A B Charitable Trust | 21/11/2025 | £3k | A grant to Safe Passage International |
| A B Charitable Trust | 15/07/2025 | £40k | A grant to Safe Passage International |
| City Bridge Foundation | 23/08/2024 | £161k | Grant to Safe Passage International |
| A B Charitable Trust | 25/03/2024 | £30k | A grant to Safe Passage International |
| A B Charitable Trust | 10/11/2023 | £20k | A grant to Safe Passage International |
| A B Charitable Trust | 12/10/2023 | £22k | A grant to Safe Passage International |
| A B Charitable Trust | 23/08/2022 | £20k | A grant to Safe Passage International |
| A B Charitable Trust | 07/10/2021 | £20k | A grant to Safe Passage International |
| A B Charitable Trust | 02/07/2020 | £15k | A grant to Safe Passage International |
| A B Charitable Trust | 27/06/2019 | £20k | A grant to Safe Passage International |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE TOLKIEN TRUST | 2 | £426k |
| TRUST FOR LONDON | 2 | £180k |
| THE NORTHWICK TRUST | 2 | £18k |
| THE REED FOUNDATION | 2 | £11k |
| The Marks Family Charitable Trust | 1 | — |
| HOLLYHOCK CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £1.1m |
| THE MICHAEL BISHOP FOUNDATION | 1 | £1.1m |
| THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £1.0m |
Charities like this
- REFUGEE LEGAL SUPPORT
- ASYLUM WELCOME
- Refugee and Migrant Justice
- SANCTUARY FOUNDATION
- REFUGEASE
- PASSAGE 2000
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAFE PASSAGE INTERNATIONAL | £1.9m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| REFUGEE LEGAL SUPPORT | £879k | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| ASYLUM WELCOME | £1.6m | Under £60,000 | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| Refugee and Migrant Justice | £1.6m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SANCTUARY FOUNDATION | £100k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| REFUGEASE | £300k | — | 0 | below | 75.5% | noted |