Footwork UK
Annual Report
01/08/2024 - 31/07/2025
Reference and Administrative Details
| Charity Name: | FOOTWORK UK |
|---|---|
| Charity Number: | 1197231 |
| Address: | Brighton & Sussex Medical School, University of |
| Sussex, Falmer, BRIGHTON, BN1 9PX | |
| Trustees: | Dr Asrat Mengiste Mergia |
| Dr Lucinda Claire Fuller | |
| James Maughan | |
| Professor Gail Davey OBE | |
| Grethe Lykou Petersen | |
| Nancy Lee | |
| Melanie Anning | |
| Delegation: | Certain administrative and communications tasks |
| are delegated to Anshul Chaudhury, Tom Barker, | |
| Michael Edmonds and Alice Ellis. | |
| Organisations: | Brighton & Sussex Medical School provided |
| infrastructure support such as internet calls. | |
| Properties: | There are no properties held by the charity at this |
| time. |
Structure, governance and management.
Footwork UK is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) whose only voting members are its Trustees. The CIO is governed by the Constitution dated 13[th] December 2021.
James Maughan joined the board during the August 2024-July 2025 reporting period. A new Chair of Trustees has been identified and will start in the next reporting period.
Footwork UK hired a Resource Mobilisation and Strategy Manager who started on September 16[th] 2024 and will serve untill 30[th] June 2026.
Financial Report
Footwork UK currently has a Treasurer’s bank account with Lloyds Bank.
Balance 01/08/2024: £62,892.00
Balance 31/07/2025: £31,177.26
| Income | Amount (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Donations | 25,400.00 | |
| Grant funding | 22,109.40 | |
| Total income | 47,509.40 | |
| Expenditure | ||
| Salaries | 39,460.00 | |
| Transfers to project partners | 12,515.00 | |
| International Conference expenses | 26,780.45 | |
| Instrumentl subscription | 427.03 | |
| Bank charges | 41.79 | |
| Total expenditure | 79,224.27 |
Exemptions from disclosure
There are no Exemptions from disclosure at this time.
The Objects of the CIO
To relieve sickness and advance the good health of those affected by podoconiosis and other skin-related Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa, Asia and Latin America, or in any other part of the world where such a disease occurs, in particular but not exclusively by:
a. bringing together national, regional and global actors to strengthen coordination, collaboration and mutual learning;
b. supporting more endemic country governments and non-government organisations to develop NTD Master Plans and long-term health strategies, enabling better access to, and integration of, care;
c. harnessing evidence-based advocacy to accelerate the adoption and scale-up of interventions for treatment and prevention; and
d. providing education and training to reduce stigma and address the social and economic impacts of the disease.
Activities.
Footwork UK was formed to bring together national, regional and global actors to strengthen coordination and mutual learning; support endemic country governments to develop Neglected Tropical Disease Master Plans, enabling better access to, and integration of, care for people affected by podoconiosis; harness evidence-based advocacy to accelerate the adoption and scale-up of interventions for treatment and prevention; and provide education and training to reduce stigma.
Achievements and performance.
Highlights in the year August 2024 to July 2025:
Projects
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Continuing our activities in our second year for IZUMI Foundation funded programme “Building a sustainable future for podoconiosis elimination”. The UK-based activities included –
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Hiring a new Resource Mobilisation and Strategy manager (September 2024).
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Collating second year reports from partners in Ethiopia and Rwanda to provide an interim report to IZUMI Foundation, following which the third tranche of funding was released.
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Footwork UK was represented at the IZUMI Foundation Partners’ Meeting by Prof Gail Davey.
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Addis Ababa clinics. Following approval of a proposal and development of contracts with partners National Podoconiosis Action Network (NaPAN) and International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), three new clinics for podoconiosis patients were established in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. These were supported to donations from individuals to Footwork UK and are situated at Megbare Senay General Hospital, Gotera Health Center and Feres Meda Health Center. 155 patients were treated through these sites.
Governance
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Board Meetings were held in October 2024, February 2025 and June 2025.
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Footwork UK policies were adopted and will be available on the Footwork website in the future. The current list of policies is:
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Conflict of Interest Policy
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Ethical Policy
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EDI Policy
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Risk Management Policy
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Safeguarding Policy
Fundraising
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The new Resource Mobilisation and Strategy Manager developed a fundraising strategy for approaching Foundations and Trusts.
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Over thirty foundations and trusts were shortlisted and seven grant applications were made during the reporting period.
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Footwork UK took a subscription of an online tool (Instrumentl) to improve the search of new leads and smoothen the process of application for grants.
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A new PayPal donation gateway was added to the website to facilitate donations
Advocacy
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Dr Claire Fuller led advocacy efforts culminating in the adoption of resolution 78:15 recognising skin diseases as a global public health priority at the World Health Assembly in May 2025. This will ultimately impact services for a wide range of skin conditions including podoconiosis.
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Footwork UK successfully organised the 2[nd] International Podoconiosis Conference in Kigali, Rwanda in January 2025. This was attended by over 100 participants representing more than 15 countries. The Conference platformed new podoconiosis related research and hosted a panel that addressed raising awareness of podoconiosis. A book of abstracts was shared with attendees.
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Prof Gail Davey attended the WHO Skin-NTD meeting in March 2025, where a podoconiosis focused side meeting led to a proposal for the formation of a regional podoconiosis elimination platform anchored in an African institution.
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A new five-year Footwork Strategy for 2026-2031 was approved by the Board and will be launched in the subsequent reporting cycle.
Trustee Actions
Prof Gail Davey liaises with academics doing research on podoconiosis worldwide, continues as Chair of the WHO Skin-NTD Operational Research Working Group and is leading the development of the Regional Podoconiosis Elimination Platform. Dr Asrat Mengiste Mergia serves as liaison between Footwork UK, the NTD NGO Network and the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. Dr L Claire Fuller led skin advocacy efforts at global level and provided Footwork UK with leads regarding potential funding sources. She remains Chair of the International Foundation for Dermatology (IFD, www.ifd.org). Melanie Anning provided powerful input to the panel discussion at the 2[nd] International Podoconiosis Conference and supported development of the communications strategy of Footwork UK. James Maughan has developed links between Footwork UK and the World Doctors Orchestra and actively supports the Resource Mobilisation and Strategy Manager in developing potential new funders. He also attended the 2[nd] International Podoconiosis Conference. Grethe Lykou Petersen supported interviews for the Resource Mobilisation and Strategy manager, reviewed policy drafts and reports. Nancy Lee reviewed policy drafts and reports.
The public benefits of these actions are:
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Accelerated dissemination of research findings from global actors to strengthen training programs for healthcare workers on the prevention and treatment of podoconiosis.
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Strategic oversight of care delivery projects supporting individuals and communities affected by podoconiosis in Ethiopia and Rwanda.
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Engagement with potential funders to initiate discussions aimed at securing sustainable future financing.
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Establishment of resource mobilisation infrastructure in the UK to enable long-term funding and support mechanisms.
The trustees therefore confirm that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charities Commission in exercising their powers.
17 St Lawrence Way, Hurstpierpoint Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 9SH 01273 833411/07877 687810 catwaageofficeservices@gmail.com
Examiner’s unqualified report (for a non-company charity preparing receipts and payments accounts) with a gross income of £250,000 or less in the relevant financial year
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Footwork Trust I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Footwork Trust (the Trust) for the year ended 31[st] July 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.
I confirm that no material 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 Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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The accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Signed:
Name: Catherine Waage
Dated: 30[th] March 2026
Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies: MAAT 20026262 Address: As above
Cat Waage Accounting Ltd Registered address: 17 St Lawrence Way, Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, West Sussex BN6 9SH Tel 07877687810 or 01273 8334711
catwaageofficeservices@gmail.com www.catwaage.co.uk
Company Number 13285540 Registered for VAT GB 466 915 356 AAT Licenced Accountant 20026262