WORKING ANIMALS INTERNATIONAL
To prevent unnecessary suffering to animals and neglect of their bodily needs by all lawful means and, in particular, by:1. Providing treatment in hospitals and otherwise for sick and injured animals2. Encouraging and promoting education in the humane treatment of animals any relevant environmental issues3. Assisting in the enforcement of such laws as may from time to time be applicable
Objects
The objects of the Charity are for the benefit of the public to prevent unnecessary suffering to working animals and neglect of their needs by lawful means and in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing by:1.1 Providing veterinary treatment for sick or injured animals and preventative care such as vaccination;1.2 Encouraging, promoting and providing education in the treatment, care, attitudes to and humane management of animals and any environmental issues;1.3 Providing emergency response care for animals, both working and those upon which communities rely, in times of crisis and to take prior steps to prevent such animals being at risk in times of crisis.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that free reserves of £15,650,140 are significantly above the charity's revised upper reserves policy target of £11.4 million. Despite a net expenditure for the year, the charity maintains a strong balance sheet with substantial liquid investments and cash, allowing it to confirm there are no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“Legacy income totalled £4,814,021 (2024: £5,675,640), also representing a decrease of 15%. Legacies continued to account for 57% of total income (2024: 57%).”
“In response, the charity has revised its approach to organisational reserves through the adoption of a risk-based reserves model.” — page 27
“Aggregate donations from Trustees were £240 (2024: £255).” — page 55
“The Working Animals International group consists of the charity, its subsidiary in Australia, the Mali branch and Working Animals International Trading Limited, a UK trading subsidiary.” — page 20
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Investment
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025
- Employees paid over £60,000: 5 (£70,001–£80,000: 2; £80,001–£90,000: 1; £90,001–£100,000: 1; £130,001–£140,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
- 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: 4 (£60,001–£70,000: 1; £90,001–£100,000: 1; £100,001–£110,000: 1; £120,001–£130,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
- Grant-making is its main activity
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023
- Employees paid over £60,000: 5 (£60,001–£70,000: 1; £70,001–£80,000: 1; £80,001–£90,000: 1; £100,001–£110,000: 1; £110,001–£120,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
- Grant-making is its main activity
In the news
- Working Animals International launches first Australian branch in Perth
- Working Animals International share plight of beasts of burden
- Working Animals International photography series puts working animals in the spotlight
- SPANA rebrands as Working Animals International
- SPANA rebrands to become Working Animals International
- SPANA rebrands to become Working Animals International
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Trustees
- Barry Topham
- Dr Bedford Mwenda Mbaka
- Dr David John Mole
- Dr GAYLE DAVINA HALLOWELL
- JOANNA GRAY
- Kerin Welford
- Leah Wanjiku Kihara
- Marianne Stuart Davies
- Morgan Hurley Lance
- Philip Antony Alvey
- Samantha Victoria Bunis
- Soumya Guha
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £8.5m | £11.1m |
| 31/12/2024 | £10.0m | £10.3m |
| 31/12/2023 | £9.6m | £8.2m |
| 31/12/2022 | £10.7m | £8.2m |
| 31/12/2021 | £9.2m | £7.9m |
Common questions
Is WORKING ANIMALS INTERNATIONAL financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that free reserves of £15,650,140 are significantly above the charity's revised upper reserves policy target of £11.4 million. Despite a net expenditure for the year, the charity maintains a strong balance sheet with substantial liquid investments and cash, allowing it to confirm there are no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent LLP.
Who funds WORKING ANIMALS INTERNATIONAL?
Funders whose own accounts filings name WORKING ANIMALS INTERNATIONAL as a grant recipient include THE CATHERINE AND ANGUS WOOD CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE CATHERINE AND ANGUS WOOD CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2026 | £2k |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE JEAN SAINSBURY ANIMAL WELFARE TRUST | 1 | £51k |
| THE ROSE ANIMAL WELFARE TRUST CIO | 1 | £12k |
| THE BERYL EVETTS AND ROBERT LUFF ANIMAL WELFARE TRUST LIMITED | 1 | £5k |
| PETPLAN CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £4k |
| MARJORIE COOTE ANIMAL CHARITY TRUST | 1 | £2k |
| THE AUBREY ORCHARD-LISLE CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £2k |
| THE SIR EDWARD LEWIS FOUNDATION | 1 | £2k |
Charities like this
- INTERNATIONAL AID FOR THE PROTECTION AND WELFARE OF ANIMALS
- ANIMAL EQUALITY
- ANIMAL AID CHARITABLE TRUST
- TAILS ANIMAL RESCUE
- CRUELTY FREE INTERNATIONAL TRUST
- ANIMALS IN DISTRESS
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WORKING ANIMALS INTERNATIONAL | £8.5m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| INTERNATIONAL AID FOR THE PROTECTION AND WELFARE OF ANIMALS | £340k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| ANIMAL EQUALITY | £849k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| ANIMAL AID CHARITABLE TRUST | £200k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| TAILS ANIMAL RESCUE | £24k | — | 0 | above | 15000.0% | no doubt |
| CRUELTY FREE INTERNATIONAL TRUST | £928k | — | 0 | unclear | 14.0% | no doubt |