THE LOTUS FLOWER

Registered charity 1203840 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The Lotus Flower runs safe centres and projects for women and girl conflict survivors and other vulnerable community members, predominantly in the Kurdistan region. We provide the tools and opportunities they need to lead change themselves. We provide livelihoods and skills training, small business support, educational classes, mental health therapy and awareness on women's rights and GBV.

Objects

TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN RELIEF TO DISPLACED WOMEN AND GIRLS AROUND THE WORLD BY PROVIDING SAFE SHELTER, HEALTH AND WELLBEING, SUPPORT AND EDUCATION

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · Disability · Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: Norwich, East of England, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£486k

Latest spending

£491k

Registered

2023

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The charity reported a net deficit of £4,927 for the year, resulting in total funds of £78,008. Free reserves stood at £37,774, which the trustees explicitly state is below their policy target of approximately £65,000. The accounts confirm the charity is a going concern with no material uncertainties identified.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: more than £60,000 — in the top quarter for charities its size (median £60k)

“One employee received total employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000” — page 19

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Employees paid over £60,000: 1

“One employee received total employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000” — page 19

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Largest income source: Trusts and Foundations (87% of income)

“Grants and donations of £486,367 are broken down as follows; Corporate Organisations £53,187; Trusts and Foundations £423,522; Private Donations £9,658.” — page 7

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £38k; policy: three months of core operating costs (approximately £65,000))

“At 31 December 2025, free reserves were £37,774 (approx. 2 month), which is below target.” — page 7

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Grants to The Lotus Flower Iraq £217,054; year-end balance £Nil due to that NGO. See related-party note.

“During the year, The Lotus Flower UK made grants totalling £217,054 to The Lotus Flower Iraq to support charitable programmes in protection, wellbeing, education, and livelihoods.” — page 25

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

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

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints policy and procedures
Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures

From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)

Answers and figures the charity gave in Part A of its annual return to the Charity Commission. They are self-declared: not verified by the Commission or by this site. Only positive answers and figures are listed; items not listed are simply not shown.

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025

Volunteers: 1
Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (£60,001–£70,000: 1)
Grant-making is its main activity

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024

Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (£60,001–£70,000: 1)

Source: this charity’s annual returns on the Charity Commission register.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — The Lotus Flower UK (matched by registered charity number).

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

BMZ — “Current institutional partners include: BMZ, CARE International, UNHCR, UN Women, and Choose Love (a partner of over ten years).” (source page)
CARE International — “Current institutional partners include: BMZ, CARE International, UNHCR, UN Women, and Choose Love (a partner of over ten years).” (source page)
UNHCR — “Current institutional partners include: BMZ, CARE International, UNHCR, UN Women, and Choose Love (a partner of over ten years).” (source page)
UN Women — “Current institutional partners include: BMZ, CARE International, UNHCR, UN Women, and Choose Love (a partner of over ten years).” (source page)
Choose Love — “Current institutional partners include: BMZ, CARE International, UNHCR, UN Women, and Choose Love (a partner of over ten years).” (source page)

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

Ruth Szabo-Khalastchichair
Hannah Wheatley
Karima Frances Haywood
Pegah Manteghi
Theresa Mary Josephine Preston

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

Operates in: Iraq · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£486k	£491k
31/12/2024	£406k	£425k

Common questions

Is THE LOTUS FLOWER financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The charity reported a net deficit of £4,927 for the year, resulting in total funds of £78,008. Free reserves stood at £37,774, which the trustees explicitly state is below their policy target of approximately £65,000. The accounts confirm the charity is a going concern with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

What does the highest-paid employee of THE LOTUS FLOWER earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the more than £60,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.

Who funds THE LOTUS FLOWER?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE LOTUS FLOWER as a grant recipient include PRISM THE GIFT FUND, THE CLARKSON FOUNDATION, JOFFE CHARITABLE TRUST CIO.

Known funders

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

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
PRISM THE GIFT FUND	FY2024	£74k	Art and Cultural Heritage
PRISM THE GIFT FUND	FY2021	£72k	Grants to institutions/organisations
THE CLARKSON FOUNDATION	FY2022	£45k
JOFFE CHARITABLE TRUST CIO	FY2021	£34k

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
ROSA FUND	1	£77k
THE HAMPSTEAD WELLS AND CAMPDEN TRUST	1	£60k
CAMDEN GIVING	1	£36k
THE SUSSEX COMMUNITY FOUNDATION	1	£10k
The Caledonia Investments Charitable Foundation	1	£3k
THE FORTE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	1	£1k
THE FINNIS SCOTT FOUNDATION	1	£600
THE WILLIAM ALLEN YOUNG CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£500

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with Lotus Families.

Lotus Families income £261k
LOTUS CARING HANDS income £79k
THE OLIVE TRUST income £12k
LOTUS OUTREACH UK income £1k
ROJ WOMEN ASSOCIATION - KURDISH AND TURKISH WOMEN'S CENTRE income £80k
THE LOTUS CHILDRENS FOUNDATION income £447k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
THE LOTUS FLOWER	£486k	more than £60,000	1	below	—	no doubt
Lotus Families FY2026	£261k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
LOTUS CARING HANDS FY2025	£79k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE OLIVE TRUST FY2024	£12k	—	0	above	—	noted
LOTUS OUTREACH UK FY2024	£1k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
ROJ WOMEN ASSOCIATION - KURDISH AND TURKISH WOMEN'S CENTRE FY2025	£80k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.