The World Children's Fund

Analysis

The World Children's Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Bromley. It was registered in January 2000, 26 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the prevention or relief of poverty and overseas aid/famine relief, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03778493). It says it makes grants to organisations and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The World Children's Fund reported income of £1.1m and spending of £1.2m, spending 107% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £4.3m to £1.1m (-74%), an average of -29% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income dropped by 58%. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, The World Children's Fund sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Colel Chabad (£1.1m), Hope Church Orpington (£1.1m) and Age UK Barnsley (£1.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 99% and investments 1.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £50k. Charitable activities took 89% of spending and raising funds 9.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £242k. Reserves of £811k would cover about 8 months of spending at that rate. It employed 1 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.