LIVELY MINDS
Lively Minds works to get pre-school children in rural Ghana and Uganda school-ready. Working through government we build the skills and confidence of marginalised mothers to run educational Play Schemes & provide nurturing care at home. This improves the quality of life and life-chances for children, parents and the wider communities.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity generated a net surplus of £150,970 for the year ended 31 December 2025, with total unrestricted reserves of £3,383,429. The trustees report that the charity's policy is to secure sufficient funding to cover the following 12 months of planned activity, a policy which was met during the period. Cash at bank increased to £4,381,901, reflecting continued strong liquidity despite a fall in total income.
What the accounts disclose
“3 employees earned £60,000 per annum (excluding employer pension costs) or more in the current or preceding financial year (2024: 3).” — page 31
“3 employees earned £60,000 per annum (excluding employer pension costs) or more in the current or preceding financial year (2024: 3).” — page 31
“Expenditure on charitable activities was £3,856,103, representing 98% of total spend, with the balance of £78,246 spent on the costs of raising funds.”
“The charity’s policy is to secure sufficient funding to cover the following 12 months of planned activity, and this policy was met during the period.”
“During the year the charity received unrestricted donations totaling £360 from one Trustee (2024: £360 from 1 Trustees). No payments were made to a Trustee during the year.” — page 36
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Alison Naftalin — Chief Executive Officer
- Thea Robson — Chief Operating Officer
- James Adongo Awini — Director
- David Mwenda — Director
- Georgina Adongo — Country Director
- Norah Ibuto — Country Director
- Abby Murphy — Associate Director
- Jacqueline Coffie — Head of HR
Funders the charity credits
- LGT Venture Philanthropy
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (07/11/2023)
Trustees
- Rehmah Nakawooya Kasulechair
- Dr Gordon Carver
- Jackline Martina Athieno
- Joanne Ndunge Mutungi Mutsekwa
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £4.1m | £3.9m |
| 31/12/2024 | £6.1m | £3.7m |
| 31/12/2023 | £3.0m | £3.3m |
| 31/12/2022 | £3.6m | £2.9m |
| 31/12/2021 | £1.8m | £1.8m |
Common questions
Is LIVELY MINDS financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity generated a net surplus of £150,970 for the year ended 31 December 2025, with total unrestricted reserves of £3,383,429. The trustees report that the charity's policy is to secure sufficient funding to cover the following 12 months of planned activity, a policy which was met during the period. Cash at bank increased to £4,381,901, reflecting continued strong liquidity despite a fall in total income. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited.
What does the highest-paid employee of LIVELY MINDS earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £60,000 or more band, and 3 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds LIVELY MINDS?
Funders whose own accounts filings name LIVELY MINDS as a grant recipient include AKO FOUNDATION, THE ELMA FOUNDATION (UK), GLOBAL INNOVATION FUND, GOWER STREET.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AKO FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £600k | Education |
| THE ELMA FOUNDATION (UK) | FY2024 | £433k | Early Childhood Development |
| THE ELMA FOUNDATION (UK) | FY2023 | £433k | Early Childhood Development |
| GLOBAL INNOVATION FUND | FY2021 | £216k | |
| AKO FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £200k | Informal play schemes in rural Ghana |
| THE ELMA FOUNDATION (UK) | FY2021 | £150k | Early Childhood Development |
| AKO FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £120k | Lively Minds |
| GOWER STREET | FY2024 | £50k | |
| GLOBAL INNOVATION FUND | FY2024 | £50k | |
| GLOBAL INNOVATION FUND | FY2022 | £40k | |
| GLOBAL INNOVATION FUND | FY2023 | £0 |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Borough of Southwark | 01/04/2017 | £2k | Grant to Lively Minds |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE CARMELA & RONNIE PIGNATELLI FOUNDATION | 2 | £8k |
| FORD BRITAIN TRUST | 2 | £5k |
| THE DIXIE ROSE FINDLAY CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £5k |
| SKIPTON BUILDING SOCIETY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 2 | £5k |
| THE ARDWICK TRUST | 2 | £500 |
| THE THALES CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | — |
| The Caring Family Foundation | 1 | £256k |
| STARLOW CHARITIES LIMITED | 1 | £106k |
Charities like this
- LITTLE LIVES UK
- LIVABILITY
- LIV (UK)
- GREAT MINDS BRIGHT FUTURES
- REFRESHING MINDS
- NEW LIFE CHILDREN'S CENTRES
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIVELY MINDS | £4.1m | £60,000 or more | 3 | unclear | 1.9% | no doubt |
| LITTLE LIVES UK | £1.5m | £80,000 - £89,999 | 2 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| LIVABILITY | £66.4m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| LIV (UK) | £212k | — | 0 | within | — | no doubt |
| GREAT MINDS BRIGHT FUTURES | £181k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| REFRESHING MINDS | £568k | — | 0 | within | — | no doubt |