Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1/1/2025 Period start date To 31/12/2025 Period end date Charity name: Surgical teams Working in Africa Together for Safer Surgery
Charity registration number: 1186564
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The purpose of the Charity is, for the public benefit, the advancement of health and the saving of lives, in particular (not limited to) by facilitating improvements in surgical care in Africa and elsewhere. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
The main activity of the charity is to offer training for surgical teams to improve services and provide better and safer surgical care. We do this in such a way as to achieve long-lasting, locally driven sustainable change. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers
Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | The Charity’s flagship project is the Affordable Mesh Hernia Initiative (formerly the Tanzania Mesh Hernia Project). Hernia surgery is the most common general surgical procedure performed worldwide. The burden of untreated hernia in Africa remains substanital, with an estimated 1,000,000 hernias currently requiring treatment in Tanzania (for example). The morbidity rate is very high due to a lack of resources, training and inadequate procedures. The Project adopts a well- established procedure using mesh for hernia repair, rather than a traditional suture plication technique. We provide centres with a supply of suitable mesh, a means to sterilise it and ensuring that all the necessary surgical and supporting skills are in place. Phase 1 of the Project was undertaken in March 2020, when 72 surgeons (of all grades) and 5 centres were involved. Feedback and results were again very encouraging. Progress slowed during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the relationship with the Tanzanian surgical community continued to flourish. Furthermore, the successes seen in Tanzania led to significant interest from countries. In 2024 ongoing expansion included further centre enrolment in Tanzania and Sierra Leone. As of December 2025 3 countries are involved, with 130 surgeons inducted across 17 centres. 1,600 hernia operations have been carried out in programme. The mesh programme is a vector for a number of other worstreams including; Basic Surgical Skills Training; Safer Surgery Training; antibiotic |
stewardship; quality assurance and improvement methodology; research skills; mentorship and networking. We also engage in laparoscopic surgical skills training and other educational events (eg speaking at training courses). We have a strong quality assurance workstream across our activity and are engaged in research.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | For this year, the Charity received income from donations only. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Currently, the reserves are £4,224.66. Expenditure covered Admin and travel costs associated with only 1 trips to Tanzania in June 2025. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £4,224.66. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | Following the COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine War the ability for the charity to raise funds has been significantly hindered. Reductions in Governmental Overseas Aid spending has been cut dramatically, other fund holders have narrowed their support and the cost of living has generally reduced the avilabilty of money into this area. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Our governing document is a trust deed. |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO. |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Any person who is willing to act as a Trustee, and who would not be disqualified from acting under the provisions of Clause 10 in the CIO constitution, may be appointed to be a Trustee by a decision of the Trustees. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Surgical teams Working in Africa Together for Safer Surgery |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | SWIFTSS |
| Registered charitynumber | 1186564 |
| Charity’s principal address | 6 Balniel Gate, London, SW1V 3SD |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Szymankiewicz |
Medical Director | |||
| Katharine Szymankiewicz |
||||
| Karen Nugent | ||||
| Christian Wakefield | ||||
| Helena Kelly | Secretary | |||
| Jonathan Linton | ||||
| Richard Constant | Chair | |||
| LesleyHunt | ||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
Not applicable |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
Not applicable |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) |
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Helena Kelly Position (eg Secretary, Secretary Chair, etc)
Date
Statement of Financial Position SWIFTSS
As of 31 December, 2025
| Distribution account | Total |
|---|---|
| Cash at bank and in hand Charity Bank account Foreign Cash Total for Cash at bank and in hand Debtors Debtors Total for Debtors NET CURRENT ASSETS Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Trade Creditors Creditors Total for Trade Creditors Current Liabilities Mark Shim Richard C Loan Total for Current Liabilities Total for Creditors: amounts falling due within one year NET CURRENT ASSETS (LIABILITIES) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES TOTAL NET ASSETS (LIABILITIES) Capital and Reserves Retained Earnings Net Income Total for Capital and Reserves |
4,856.38 129.00 |
| £4,985.38 0.00 |
|
| £0.00 | |
| £4,985.38 760.72 |
|
| £760.72 0.00 0.00 |
|
| £0.00 | |
| £760.72 | |
| £4,224.66 | |
| £4,224.66 | |
| £4,224.66 -16,372.99 20,597.65 |
|
| £4,224.66 |
Accrual Basis Monday, 02 March 2026 07:59 PM GMTZ
Statement of Activity
SWIFTSS
January-December, 2025
| Distribution account | Total |
|---|---|
| Income Donations and legacies Other Income (Gift Aid etc) Total for Income Gross Profit Expenses |
20,273.56 5,000.00 |
| £25,273.56 | |
| £25,273.56 |
| Accounting/Project Management Advertising/Promotional Bank charges Computer Costs Legal & Professional fees Travel and Accommodation T&S Total for Travel and Accommodation Total for Expenses Net Operating Income Net Other Income Net Income |
490.00 48.00 18.01 376.19 35.00 619.50 3,089.21 |
|---|---|
| £3,708.71 | |
| £4,675.91 | |
| £20,597.65 | |
| £20,597.65 |
Accrual Basis Monday, 02 March 2026 08:03 PM GMTZ
Spindle Cottage
NALDRETT ACCOUNTANTS 2 Back Lane,
Sydling St Nicholas, Dorchester,
Dorset DT2 9TP
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of SWIFTSS
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the SWIFTSS ( 'Surgical teams Working in aFrica Together for Safer Surgery ') charity for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination and can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination that would give me cause to believe that in any material respect that:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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Naldrett Accountants is the trading name of ExitJust Ltd. Registration number: 2593244 Registered with the Association of Taxation Technicians for the purposes of anti money laundering legislation
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I confirm that 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.
I confirm that I am qualified to undertake this examination by virtue of relevant professional qualification as:
FELLOW OF THE CHARTERED GOVERNANCE INSTITUTE
Name: JENNIFER ADAMS FCG TEP ATT (Fellow)
Signed: ________
Date:_______
Address:
NALDRETT ACCOUNTANTS
2 Back Lane,
Sydling St Nicholas
Dorchester,
Dorset. DT2 9TP