Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
Charity number: 1148762 Company number: 08031595 (England and Wales)
World Sight Foundation
Saving Vision through Education Annual report and financial statements for the year ended March 31[st] 2025
Registered charity number 1148762 Registered company number (England and Wales) 8031595 Registered Office 3 Tedworth Square, London SW34DU www.worldsightfoundation.com
Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
World Sight Foundation Contents Page For the year ended 31 March 2025
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 4 |
|---|---|
| Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Position | 7 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 8 to 12 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 13 |
Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
World Sight Foundation Report of the Trustees Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025
The Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements for the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2025. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
Chair's report
Mission
Our mission is to enhance the skills of locally based eye care professionals working in the developing world. This has usually (but not exclusively) taken the form of teaching those working in primary eye care. Our ambition is to help raise standards to enable this cadre of worker to be able to recognise and manage simple eye conditions and to be able to recognise sight threatening disease which needs urgent referral.
Our motto is If we treat, we help now, if we teach, we help forever.
Approach and Ethos
Improving the standards of eye care of those looking after the poorest and most needy patients in the world is the way we have chosen to provide ophthalmic aid. This is the role upon which The World Sight Foundation (WSF), formed in 2012, has decided to concentrate and to work on a we will help you do it but not do it for you basis.
Some of these practitioners, particularly those in rural areas, work in poorly equipped clinics and have little access to post graduate instruction.
Education is an empowering self-help tool and enhancing the skills of primary care practitioners, be they doctors, nurses or other healthcare professionals, is one way of helping to reduce the appalling incidence of blindness in the world which is currently estimated to be 40 million people.
Improving the standards of the primary care workforce can provide direct advantages to patients, both adult and children. It also enables these professionals to contribute more effectively to future eye health initiatives in their country, (e.g. the early detection and monitoring of diabetic retinopathy which is increasing due to the rise in prevalence of diabetes)
How we work
Our teaching methods consist of our on-site and our online programmes. These are supplemented by our teaching manual and our educational videos.
Our on-site courses reflect the main needs of the attendees - thus we have simplified lecturing and have increased the practical skilling component of the courses.
Online distance learning courses have been conducted successfully this year in Ludhiana, Hyderabad, Lesotho, Hainan, Bhopal, Bangladesh and Pune.
Around 423 participants joined these courses this year, featuring online lectures from UK ophthalmic speakers and hands-on training by local ophthalmologists. The sessions consistently draw strong participation and positive feedback.
On-site courses were held at:-
a) McCord Eye Hospital in Durban, South Africa in July and November 2024 and 49 primary care workers attended these courses. The July course was attended by local primary care workers from Natal and the November course had attendees from Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Uganda. We will conduct more courses at McCords in 2025-6.
b) In India, we have commenced teaching partnerships with Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya (SSN) in Guwahati, Assam and with Pushpagiri Vitreoretinal Institute (PVRI) in Hyderabad, Telangana and conducted on site teaching courses in both places. A total of 75 primary care eye workers attended these courses which will be repeated next year.
In 2025 an Indian support group will be established by WSF to further our work there.
A sample letter of appreciation from a primary care worker attending one of our onsite courses contained the following:Thank you once again for this valuable opportunity and for your continued commitment to advancing eye care in our region. I got some skills from this that I will pass to my colleagues and workmates. I would be glad to participate in further training.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
World Sight Foundation Report of the Trustees Continued
For the year ended 31 March 2025
Future Developments:
The charity's plan for the next year is to:
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Continue with different models of online distance learning and to continue our in-person overseas training courses in Africa and India.
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Continue to evaluate and monitor its educational efforts to see where improvements can be made.
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Continue with an appropriate level of fundraising to meet our needs.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The primary aim of the charity is to contribute to the saving of vision, through education, anywhere in the world. At the present time our activities, reactive to local need to ensure sustainability, are in Africa and India.
The trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance 'public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.
The trustees believe these benefits - to people affected by visual disorders in the countries where the charity operates - are clearly demonstrated in the trustees' determination to deliver, through education, enhanced ophthalmic skills of locally-based eye care professionals.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves
It is our policy to ensure there are sufficient funds to meet expenditure for the ensuing year.
The magnitude of donations, which are the only source of income at the moment other than negligible amounts from interest bearing accounts, is the determinant of the level of funding that the charity is able to utilise.
During the year the charity's income was £70,504 and the outgoings were £120,269.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The World Sight Foundation was established as a company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 16th April 2012, and registered as a charity on 30th August 2012. The company, established under a Memorandum of Association, which states the objects and powers of the charitable company, is governed by its Articles of Association. The charity is governed by a board of trustees.
The trustees, who are the members of the charity, are liable for the debts and liabilities of the charity to an amount not exceeding £10 per member in the event of a winding-up during their membership, or within one year afterwards.
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
The trustees of the charity appoint new trustees by a unanimous vote. Trustees are selected for their knowledge of the activities of the charity and/or for their financial, investment and business abilities.
Induction and training of new trustees
Appropriate induction and training is given so that trustees may contribute effectively to the governance of the charity. They are made aware of the statutory obligations as a director and as a trustee.
The Induction process includes meetings with the Chairman and trustees and the new trustee is provided with documents relevant to the charity. These include the Memorandum and Articles of Association, latest accounts and referred to the Charity Commission's guideline CC3-The Essential Trustee: what you need to know. New trustees are familiarised with our conflicts of interest policy and the complaints procedure and other relevant policies.
Board Policies
The following policies are fully extant - Teacher disclaimer, Code of Conduct, Conflicts of Interest, Complaints Handling, Data protection, Expenses, Safeguarding and Bribery.
Risk management
The trustees conduct their own monitoring of the major risks to which the charity is exposed and systems have been established to mitigate those risks. Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects and to ensure consistent quality of delivery for all operational aspects of the charity. Adequate measures have been taken to mitigate any risks incurred by visiting teachers in connection with their teaching responsibilities.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
World Sight Foundation Report of the Trustees Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Name of Charity World Sight Foundation Charity registration number 1148762 Company registration number 08031595 Principal address 3 Tedworth Square London SW3 4DU
Trustees
The trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
A.H. Chignell Esq MBE DO FRCS FRCOphth (Chairman) Miss G.N. Chignell Mrs M. Mills R.H.C. Markham Esq FRCP FRCS FRCOphth (Resigned: 04 November 2024) Duncan Cantlay Esq TD DL (Resigned: 01 May 2024) Professor Clare Gilbert MD FRCS FRCOphth B.James Esq DM FRCS (Ed) FRCOphth Mr David John Brazier (Appointed: 01 May 2024) Mr Robin Mackenzie (Appointed: 01 May 2024)
Niall Hawkins FCA CTA
Independent examiners Farrow Accounting & Tax Limited Unit T13 Tideway Yard 125 Mortlake High Street London SW14 8SN
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Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
World Sight Foundation Report of the Trustees Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees (who are also the directors of The World Sight Foundation for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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Observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the detection of fraud and other irregularities. In so far as trustees are aware:
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There is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s independent examiners are aware:
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The trustees have taken all reasonable steps to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the independent examiners are aware of that information.
Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by
Signed ....................................... Date 21 October 2025
Name A. H. Chignell (Chairman)
Signed ....................................... Date 21 October 2025
Name M. Mills (Trustee)
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Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
World Sight Foundation Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiners statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Farrow Accounting & Tax Limited
Niall Hawkins FCA CTA Unit T13 Tideway Yard 125 Mortlake High Street London SW14 8SN
21 October 2025
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Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
World Sight Foundation
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) For the year ended 31 March 2025
| Income and endowments from: Notes Donations and legacies 2 Other trading activities 3 Investments 4 Total Expenditure on: Raising funds 5 Charitable activities 6/7 Other expenditure Total Net income/expenditure Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds £ 68,671 - 1,834 70,505 - (120,057) (213) (120,270) (49,765) 166,852 117,087 |
Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - - - 9,157 9,157 |
2025 £ 68,671 - 1,834 70,505 - (120,057) (213) (120,270) (49,765) 176,009 126,244 |
2024 £ 96,095 24 2,264 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98,383 | ||||
| (6,903) (156,526) (204) |
||||
| (163,633) | ||||
| (65,250) 241,259 |
||||
| 176,009 |
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Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
08031595
Registered Number :
World Sight Foundation Statement of Financial Position As at 31 March 2025
| Notes | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Current assets | |||
| Debtors | 12 | 4,657 | 14,000 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 121,587 | 162,009 | |
| 126,244 | 176,009 | ||
| Net current assets | 126,244 | 176,009 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 126,244 | 176,009 | |
| Net assets | 126,244 | 176,009 | |
| The funds of the charity | |||
| Restricted income funds | 13 | 9,157 | 9,157 |
| Unrestricted income funds | 13 | 117,087 | 166,852 |
| Total funds | 126,244 | 176,009 |
For the year ended 31 March 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
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The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance
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with section 476,
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The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting
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records and the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board and signed on its behalf by:
A.H. Chignell Esq MBE DO FRCS FRCOphth (Chairman) Trustee
21 October 2025
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Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
World Sight Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for investments which are included at market value and the revaluation of certain fixed assets and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Companies Act 2006.
World Sight Foundation meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
Going concern
The trustees are of the view that the Charity has sufficient reserves for the foreseeable future and, as such, that the Charity is a going concern.
Funds
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objectives of the charity. Restrictions arise where specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the Charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
Resources expended
Liabilities are recognised as resources expended when there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to the expenditure:
Taxation
The Charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Foreign currencies
Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recognised at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of the transaction. At the end of each reporting period foreign currency monetary items are translated at the closing rate of exchange. Non-monetary items that are measured at historical cost are translated at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. All differences are charged to the income statement.
2. Income from donations and legacies
| ncome from donations and legacies | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| Donations received | 68,671 | 96,096 |
| 68,671 | 96,096 |
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Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
World Sight Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025
| 3. Income earned for other activities Unrestricted funds Book sales 4. Investment income Unrestricted funds Bank interest receivable 5. Expenditure on other trading activities Fund raising events 6. Costs of charitable activities by fund type Unrestricted funds Ophthalmic Education Support costs 7. Costs of charitable activities by activity type Activities undertaken directly Grant funding of activities Support costs £ £ £ Support costs Ophthalmic Education 974 109,056 10,026 |
2025 £ 2024 £ - 24 - 24 2025 £ 2024 £ 1,834 2,264 1,834 2,264 2025 2024 £ £ - 6,903 - 6,903 2025 £ 2024 £ 110,030 132,861 10,027 23,665 120,056 156,526 2025 2024 £ £ 120,056 156,526 |
|---|---|
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Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
World Sight Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025
| 8. Analysis of support costs Ophthalmic Education Management Governance costs 9. Net income/(expenditure) for the year This is stated after charging/(crediting): Accountancy fees 10. Particulars of employees Total |
2025 £ 2,339 7,688 10,027 2025 £ 1,800 2025 0 0 |
2024 £ 2,124 21,541 23,665 2024 £ 1,860 2024 0 0 |
|---|---|---|
11. Comparative for the Statement of Financial Activities
The comparative year values on the Statement of Financial Activities are for unrestricted funds.
12. Debtors
| Amounts due within one year: Other debtors |
2025 £ 4,658 4,658 |
2024 £ 14,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 14,000 |
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Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
World Sight Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025
13. Movement in funds
Unrestricted Funds
| Unrestricted Funds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General General Unrestricted Funds - Previous year General General |
Balance at 01/04/2024 £ 166,852 166,852 Balance at 01/04/2023 £ 232,102 232,102 |
Incoming resources £ 70,505 70,505 Incoming resources £ 98,383 98,383 |
Outgoing resources £ (120,270) (120,270) Outgoing resources £ (163,633) (163,633) |
Balance at 31/03/2025 £ 117,087 |
| 117,087 | ||||
| Balance at 31/03/2024 £ 166,852 |
||||
| 166,852 |
Purpose of unrestricted Funds
General
Saving vision through the education of ophthalmic personnel.
Restricted Funds
| Restricted Funds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rwanda Restricted Funds - Previous year Rwanda |
Balance at 01/04/2024 £ 9,157 9,157 Balance at 01/04/2023 £ 9,157 9,157 |
Balance at 31/03/2025 £ 9,157 |
| 9,157 | ||
| Balance at 31/03/2024 £ 9,157 |
||
| 9,157 |
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Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
World Sight Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025
Purpose of restricted funds
Rwanda
Saving vision through the education of ophthalmic personnel in Rwanda.
14. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Analysis of net assets between funds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Net current | Net Assets | |
| assets / | ||
| (liabilities) | ||
| £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| General | ||
| General | 117,088 | 117,088 |
| Restricted funds | ||
| Rwanda | 9,157 | 9,157 |
| 126,245 | 126,245 | |
| Previous year | ||
| Net current | Net Assets | |
| assets / | ||
| (liabilities) | ||
| £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| General | ||
| General | 166,852 | 166,852 |
| Restricted funds | ||
| Rwanda | 9,157 | 9,157 |
| 176,009 | 176,009 |
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Docusign Envelope ID: 51CC890B-385D-4544-81FD-61AF20F27A9D
World Sight Foundation Detailed Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 March 2025
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENT Donations and legacies Donations Other trading activities Book sales Investments Bank interest receivable Total incoming resources EXPENDITURE Other trading activities Fund raising events costs Charitable activities Cost of direct charitable activity Cost of grant funded charitable activity Other Bank charges SUPPORT COSTS Management Insurance Advertising Governance costs Accountancy fees Administrator Total resources expended Net Expenditure |
2025 £ 68,671 68,671 - - 1,834 1,834 70,505 - - (974) (109,056) (110,030) (213) (213) (548) (1,791) (2,339) (1,800) (5,888) (7,688) (120,270) (49,765) |
2024 £ 96,095 96,095 24 24 2,264 2,264 98,383 (6,903) (6,903) (383) (132,478) (132,861) (204) (204) (837) (1,287) (2,124) (1,860) (19,681) (21,541) (163,609) (65,249) |
|---|---|---|
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This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements