BOOK AID INTERNATIONAL
Book Aid International is the UK's leading international book donation and library development charity. Book Aid International's vision is a world where everyone has access to the books that will enrich, improve and change their lives.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure for the year, with total income of £11,585,915 against total expenditure of £13,640,415. Per the trustees' report, free reserves stood at £999,916, which is above the Board's confirmed minimum policy target of £600,000. The charity relies entirely on voluntary income and receives no government grants.
What the accounts disclose
“One member of staff receives a salary of between £90,000 and £100,000”
“In 2025, the minimum level of free reserves was confirmed by the Board at £600,000.”
Year-over-year changes
- Top pay band moved from £80,001 - £90,000 (FY2024) to £90,001 - £100,000 (FY2025).
In the news
- Kenya National Library, Book Aid International Donate 600 Books to Local Locals
- Video: Queen Camilla marks 70th anniversary of Book Aid International
- Book Aid International Names Abi Daré as First-Ever Author Ambassador for 2026
- Book Aid International Moves to Larger Warehouse
- School for Life, Book Aid International donate to schools
- SfL, Book Aid International present books to TaCE, Tolon SHS
- Queen Camilla celebrates the joy of reading at Book Aid International’s 70th anniversary
- Queen Camilla reflects on the 'joy' reading can give to children during impromptu speech at the 70th anniversary of Book Aid International at St James's Palace
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Trustees
- Dr ALICE MARJORIE SHEILA PROCHASKAchair
- Alan James David Hurcombe
- Alexandra Emma Jones
- Chioma Michelle Okwudiafor
- Dr Harry Kuchah Kuchah PhD
- Dr Shereen Kreidieh
- Paula Lee Clarke
- Rebecca Jane Fabrizi
- Susan Hutton
- Zainab Umar
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £11.6m | £13.6m |
| 31/12/2024 | £22.1m | £20.9m |
| 31/12/2023 | £22.6m | £20.0m |
| 31/12/2022 | £17.7m | £17.4m |
| 31/12/2021 | £12.6m | £15.6m |
Common questions
Is BOOK AID INTERNATIONAL financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure for the year, with total income of £11,585,915 against total expenditure of £13,640,415. Per the trustees' report, free reserves stood at £999,916, which is above the Board's confirmed minimum policy target of £600,000. The charity relies entirely on voluntary income and receives no government grants. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of BOOK AID INTERNATIONAL earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £90,001 - £100,000 band.
Who funds BOOK AID INTERNATIONAL?
Funders whose own accounts filings name BOOK AID INTERNATIONAL as a grant recipient include ALLAN AND NESTA FERGUSON CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT, Able Child Africa, THE BEATRICE LAING TRUST, PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUST, THE LAW SOCIETY CHARITY.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALLAN AND NESTA FERGUSON CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT | FY2023 | £25k | |
| Able Child Africa | FY2022 | £19k | Grants > £10,000 |
| THE BEATRICE LAING TRUST | FY2025 | £10k | |
| PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £10k | |
| PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £10k | |
| THE LAW SOCIETY CHARITY | FY2022 | £5k | |
| G M C TRUST | FY2022 | £5k | |
| G M C TRUST | FY2024 | £4k | |
| G M C TRUST | FY2025 | £2k | |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. FAITH AND ST. LAURENCE HARBORNE | FY2023 | £800 | |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. EDMUND,ALLESTREE | FY2022 | £350 | |
| THE SAMUEL STOREY FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £280 | |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARKS FOREST GATE | FY2025 | £200 | Adhoc Giving |
| MONA HATOUM FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £0 | |
| G M C TRUST | FY2023 | £0 |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postcode Lottery | 10/02/2025 | £700k | Regular Grant 2025 |
| Postcode Lottery | 01/12/2023 | £900k | Regular Grant 2024 |
| Postcode Lottery | 28/02/2023 | £800k | Regular Grant 2023 |
| Postcode Lottery | 09/02/2022 | £700k | Regular Grant 2022 |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| PLAN INTERNATIONAL UK | 2 | £114k |
| THE REED FOUNDATION | 1 | — |
| DAVID & RUTH LEWIS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £2.9m |
| Frontline AIDS | 1 | £943k |
| START NETWORK | 1 | £919k |
| THE TOLKIEN TRUST | 1 | £420k |
| PEGASUS | 1 | £400k |
| THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED | 1 | £195k |
Charities like this
- ACTIONAID
- INTERNATIONAL AID TRUST
- CARE INTERNATIONAL UK
- AID INTERNATIONAL UK
- COMPUTERAID INTERNATIONAL
- IAC-UK
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOOK AID INTERNATIONAL | £11.6m | £90,001 - £100,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| ACTIONAID | £47.6m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| INTERNATIONAL AID TRUST | £1.2m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CARE INTERNATIONAL UK | £64.1m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| AID INTERNATIONAL UK | £260k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| COMPUTERAID INTERNATIONAL | £2.2m | £60,000 - £70,000 | 1 | above | — | no doubt |