World Horse Welfare

Analysis

World Horse Welfare is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Norwich. It was registered in May 1979, 47 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and animals, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending December 2025, World Horse Welfare reported income of £11.1m and spending of £12.2m, spending 110% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £8.5m to £11.1m (+31%), an average of +6.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 100%. Over the whole period it spent 97% of the income it received.

Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, World Horse Welfare sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include South West Environmental Parks Limited (£10.9m), Marwell Wildlife (£12.5m) and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK (£10.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 94%, trading 3.8% and investments 1.4%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £7.0m. Charitable activities took 72% of spending and raising funds 27%. Grants to other organisations totalled £150k. Reserves of £13.4m would cover about 13 months of spending at that rate. It employed 132 people.