Spotlight on Africa
Analysis
Spotlight on Africa is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Hertfordshire. It was registered in January 2007, 19 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives, the prevention or relief of poverty and overseas aid/famine relief, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Spotlight on Africa reported income of £513k and spending of £584k, spending 114% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £215k to £513k (+138%), an average of +24% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 223%. Over the whole period it spent 98% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Spotlight on Africa sits at the 84th percentile: it is larger than about 84% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Action Through Enterprise (£513k), The Band Trust (£513k) and Langworthy Cornerstone Association Ltd (£513k).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 97% and charitable activities 2.6%. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 6.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £545k. Reserves of £73k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate.
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.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 97%
- Charitable activities 2.6%
In the charity's own words
SoA is focused on the relief of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. It seeks to do this not only by providing financial assistance, but also by promoting the exchange of expertise, learning and friendship with the communities that it works with. The formal objectives of SoA are to advance education, alleviate poverty & unemployment and protect & preserve health for people in sub-Saharan Africa.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Action Through Enterprise | Berkshire | £513k |
| The Band Trust | London | £513k |
| Langworthy Cornerstone Association Ltd | Salford | £513k |
| Connect: North Korea | Surrey | £514k |