ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported an overall net deficit of £2.5 million for the year, resulting in a net unrestricted funds deficit of £5.7 million. The trustees note that unrestricted general reserves of £27.4 million remain above the top end of the target range of £21 million, covering approximately nine to ten months of recent normal unrestricted expenditures. While the financial position is described as robust with adequate resources for the foreseeable future, the trustees acknowledge significant adverse changes in the global funding environment.
What the accounts disclose
“In 2024, Sightsavers’ CEO was paid £172,212 (gross, excluding pension). This was the highest salary of the organisation.”
“In 2024, we reported a case of financial malfeasance to the Charity Commission. This involved a former member of staff, who worked in our Middle East office, making inappropriate use of a corporate credit card and failing to properly justify certain items of expenditure prior to their departure from the organisation.”
Year-over-year changes
- Top pay band moved from £160,001 - £170,000 (FY2023) to £170,000 - £179,999 (FY2024).
Funders the charity credits
- Postcode Lottery
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (05/06/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (15/11/2022)
- Received assets from another charity (14/05/2021)
- Received assets from another charity (15/02/2021)
- Received assets from another charity (21/12/2020)
- Received assets from another charity (16/02/2017)
Trustees
- CLIVE JONES CBEchair
- ABIA AKRAM
- Brian Morris Dawson
- DAVID LOUIS TAYLOR
- Dr Francis Vijay Narasimhan Rangarajan
- Dr Henry Nkumbe
- Dr Margaret Gyapong
- Dr Subramanian Garimella
- Elaine Lee
- JOY HUTCHEON
- Pratik Vijaykumar Patel
- Professor Tuwani Adel Rasengane
- William Kendall
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2024 | £285.6m | £288.5m |
| 31/12/2023 | £337.9m | £340.5m |
| 31/12/2022 | £313.4m | £309.2m |
| 31/12/2021 | £236.8m | £213.6m |
| 31/12/2020 | £261.0m | £250.4m |
Common questions
Is ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND financially healthy?
The accounts state that the charity reported an overall net deficit of £2.5 million for the year, resulting in a net unrestricted funds deficit of £5.7 million. The trustees note that unrestricted general reserves of £27.4 million remain above the top end of the target range of £21 million, covering approximately nine to ten months of recent normal unrestricted expenditures. While the financial position is described as robust with adequate resources for the foreseeable future, the trustees acknowledge significant adverse changes in the global funding environment. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND earn?
Per its FY2024 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £170,000 - £179,999 band.
Who funds ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND?
Funders whose own accounts filings name ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND as a grant recipient include THE CHILDREN'S INVESTMENT FUND FOUNDATION (UK), LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 105N FOUNDATION, Founders Pledge Ltd, THE VIRGIN FOUNDATION, THE PEARS FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postcode Lottery | 10/02/2025 | £2.5m | Regular Grant 2025 |
| Postcode Lottery | 01/12/2023 | £2.5m | Regular Grant 2024 |
| Postcode Lottery | 28/02/2023 | £2.6m | Regular Grant 2023 |
| Postcode Lottery | 09/02/2022 | £2.5m | Regular Grant 2022 |
| ARCADIA | — | £1.0m | To establish an eye health fund in Asia and Africa |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE END FUND | 1 | £821k |
| THE BAND TRUST | 1 | £120k |
| CHRISTADELPHIAN MEAL A DAY FUND | 1 | £95k |
| THE HEADLEY TRUST | 1 | £60k |
| THE JAMES TUDOR FOUNDATION | 1 | £51k |
| THE FRANCIS WINHAM FOUNDATION | 1 | £35k |
| ROBERT LUFF FOUNDATION LIMITED | 1 | £25k |
| THE A S CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £23k |