CLEAN TRADE
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the period 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025
Reference and Administrative Details
Charity Number 1177571
Trustees
Prof. Leif Wenar (Chair) (indefinite appointment)
Mr. Paul Jourdan (re-appointed 23 June 2023 for a five-year term)
Mr. Richard Meeran (re-appointed 17 June 2022 for a four-year term)
Dr. Octavio Ferraz (re-appointed 23 June 2024 for a five-year term)
Chief Executive
Mr. Andrew Togher
Registered Office
78 Offord Road London N1 1EB
Principal Bankers
Virgin Money 154–158 Kensington High Street London W8 7RL
Governing Document
Clean Trade is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by a Constitution whose only voting members are its charity trustees.
Clean Trade was incorporated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on the 14[th] March 2018.
Chair's Statement
The past year has been one of consolidation and preparation for Clean Trade.
Since the charity's establishment, we have worked to advance the principle that peoples should benefit from and participate in decisions concerning their natural resources. During 2024–25 we continued this work through international engagement, partnership-building and stakeholder dialogue.
A significant activity during the year was our contribution to a joint submission to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. We also organised two seminars on human rights and natural resources, bringing together participants from legal, academic, civil society, business and investor communities. These activities enabled Clean Trade to contribute to important discussions, broaden its network and deepen collaboration with organisations working in related fields.
Alongside these activities, the trustees undertook a review of the organisation's future direction. Experience gained since Clean Trade's formation has reinforced the importance of natural resource rights while highlighting the need to focus on approaches capable of delivering practical outcomes. The review confirmed the continuing relevance of the charity's mission and helped clarify priorities for future work.
As a small charity, Clean Trade depends heavily upon the commitment and expertise of its trustees, advisers and partners. I would like to thank all those who supported our work during the year.
Prof. Leif Wenar Chair of Trustees
Objectives
Clean Trade exists to advance human rights by promoting the rights of peoples to benefit from and participate in decisions concerning their natural resources.
Strategy
During the year the trustees reviewed the mechanisms through which Clean Trade can most effectively advance its mission.
Drawing on experience gained through international engagement, collaboration with partner organisations and discussions with experts from a range of sectors, the trustees assessed possible directions for future activity. The review considered where the charity could make a distinctive contribution, complement the work of others and achieve meaningful impact.
This process helped clarify the areas in which Clean Trade can make a distinctive contribution and provided a stronger foundation for future planning and resource allocation.
Activities and Achievements
United Nations Engagement
During the year Clean Trade contributed to a joint shadow report submitted to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as part of the Committee's review of the United Kingdom.
Prepared in partnership with the Transnational Law Institute at King's College London, Leigh Day and Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID), the submission advanced discussion of natural resource rights within an important international human rights forum and strengthened Clean Trade's engagement with leading organisations in the field.
Seminars on Human Rights and Natural Resources
Clean Trade organised seminars in November 2024 and July 2025 focused on the relationship between human rights and natural resources.
The seminars brought together lawyers, academics, representatives of civil society organisations, multilateral institutions, businesses and investors. Discussions explored developments in natural resource governance, responsible business conduct and mechanisms for accountability.
The events provided opportunities to exchange ideas, test emerging thinking and identify potential areas for collaboration.
Partnership Development
Partnerships remain central to Clean Trade's model.
During the year the charity continued to work with organisations and individuals whose expertise complements its own. These collaborations enabled Clean Trade to participate
in projects and discussions that would not have been possible through its resources alone and helped ensure that the charity's ideas reached relevant legal, policy and academic audiences.
Governance
The trustees are responsible for the overall governance, strategic direction and financial stewardship of the charity. The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.
The Board met regularly during the year to oversee activities, monitor finances and consider future priorities. In addition to supervising current work, trustees devoted significant attention to assessing how the organisation could maximise its long-term impact.
The charity continued to benefit from the experience, professional expertise and networks of its trustees and advisers.
Financial Review
The charity maintained a prudent approach to financial management throughout the year.
Clean Trade received no income during the reporting period and incurred expenditure of £10 in administrative costs. The charity's activities continued to be supported by substantial voluntary contributions of time, expertise and resources from trustees and partner organisations, including research support, event hosting and professional advice.
At 31 August 2025 the charity held unrestricted reserves of approximately £11,000. The trustees retained these reserves while undertaking a review of future priorities and assessing opportunities for the next phase of the charity's development.
The trustees consider the charity's financial position to be stable and appropriate to its current activities.
Risk Management
The trustees regularly review risks affecting the charity.
The principal risks identified during the year were limited organisational capacity, reliance on voluntary contributions of expertise and the challenge of securing resources for future growth.
These risks are mitigated through prudent financial management, active trustee engagement and collaboration with partner organisations.
Plans for the Future
The trustees intend to build upon the relationships, experience and insights developed during the year.
While remaining engaged with relevant international processes where appropriate, future work is expected to place greater emphasis on legal and accountability mechanisms capable of advancing natural resource rights in practical ways.
Clean Trade will continue to collaborate with expert partners and explore opportunities to support initiatives that can contribute to lasting improvements in the protection of peoples' rights over their natural resources.
| No (if any) | No (if any) | CC16a | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean Trade | ||||||||||
| Receipts and payments accounts | ||||||||||
| For the period from |
Period start date | To | ||||||||
| 01-Sep-24 | 31-Aug-25 | |||||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds | Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | ||||||
| ~~to the nearest~~ |
to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | ||||||
| A1 Receipts | ~~£~~ | |||||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Sub total _(Gross income for AR) _ | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||||||
| n/a | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Total receipts | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| A3 Payments | ||||||||||
| ConsultancyA Togher | 10 | - | 10 | 10 | ||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | - | - | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | 10 | - | - | 10 | 10 | |||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||||||
n/a |
- | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | |||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Totalpayments | 10 | - | - | 10 | 10 | |||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) | - 10 | - | - | - 10 | - 10 | |||||
| A5 Transfers between funds | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| A6 Cash funds lastyear end | 11 011 | - | - | 11 011 | 11 021 | |||||
| Cash funds thisyear end | 11 001 | - | - | 11 001 | 11 011 | |||||
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | ||||||||||
| Categories | Details | Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds | Endowment funds |
||||||
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | ||||||||
| B1 Cash funds | Cash in bank (at 31 Aug 2024) | 11 001 | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||
| Total cash funds | 11 001 | - | - | |||||||
| CCXX R1 accounts (SS) | (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) 1 |
15/06/2023 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted funds | Endowment | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories | Details | funds | funds | |||||||
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | ||||||||
| B1 Cash funds | Cash in bank (at 31 Aug 2024) | 11 001 | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||
| Total cash funds | 11 001 | - | - | |||||||
| CCXX R1 accounts (SS) | (agree | balances with receipts and payments account(s)) 1 |
ok | OK | OK | 15/06/2023 |
15/06/2023
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds | Endowment funds |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Details | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||||
| B2 Other monetary assets | No other monetary assets | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
|||||||
| B3 Investment assets | No investment assets | - | - | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | |||||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
|||||||
| B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
No retained assets |
- | - | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | |||||||||
| Details | Fund to which liability relates |
Amount due (optional) |
When due (optional) |
|||||||
| B5 Liabilities | No liabilities | - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||||
| - | ||||||||||
| - | ||||||||||
| - | ||||||||||
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Signature | Print Name | Date of approval | |||||||
| Leif Wenar | 23-Jun-26 | |||||||||
2
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
15/06/2023
CCXX R3 aeeounts ISSI 1510612023