Kldney
Research UK
Annual
report
2024/25
kidney disease ends here.
Front cover image: Research associate George Hatton is helping investigate how to tackle the BK virus in kidney transplant patients.
## **Stronger than ever**
Kidney disease is too often overlooked, ignored or misunderstood. Therefore, in May 2025, when the World Health Organisation adopted a resolution to reduce the burden of kidney disease, we celebrated this significant milestone for the whole kidney community. It signalled international recognition of the need to address the seriousness and escalating scale of kidney disease.
Despite the great strides made to accelerate change for people affected by kidney disease, just a few weeks later this success was sadly at odds with the domestic front, with no specific recommendations on the kidney disease pathway in the government’s long-awaited 10 Year Health Plan. We swiftly rallied with fellow kidney charities to launch our call for a national strategy for kidney disease, so it is given the same focus as diabetes and heart disease. Our own reports have shown that failing to address the rising numbers of kidney patients could be catastrophic and urgent action is needed.
With 2025 marking the midway point of our tenyear charity strategy, together with our patient advisors, we have reflected on progress to date and have strengthened plans to increase the pace and impact of our work. We are strategically building our infrastructure so that we have the resources to significantly scale up our work.
Thanks to those who support us, progress in fundraising stands us in good stead. We saw another year of significant growth in income, and many new partnerships and relationships enabled even greater investments in research. Some people do the most extraordinary things to raise money for us, taking on enormous feats of endurance or ingenuity, others show their support through regular gifts and playing our lottery, join in events such as our popular Bridges Walks, or generously pledge to leave us a legacy. We appreciate every one of you.
And we appreciate the many organisations who choose to partner with us, so that together, we can create the change kidney patients urgently need. Our partnerships go from strength to strength, whether we are working with primary care professionals to better identify and help manage kidney disease, expanding our NURTuRE bio resource to gather data, samples and insights to accelerate the development of new therapies, or working with experts in polycystic kidney disease to launch our vital PKD Partnership.
And we appreciate those who give their time by volunteering to help us raise awareness, raise funds, deliver our work, and ensure the thoughts and experiences of kidney patients inform everything we do. You shape us, you give us insight and inspiration; you make it happen.
Team Kidney is stronger than ever, and I am excited to embark on the next chapter with you all.
## **Sandra Currie OBE Chief executive**
## **Contents**
**3** Impact report **16** Report from the trustees
- **27** Independent auditors’ report **31** Financial statements
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **2**
## **Impact report**
## **What we did to… Rally together for change**
By building our community of patients, volunteers, supporters, partners and researchers, collectively known as Team Kidney, we can make our voices heard and progress our mission to end kidney disease.
## **Changing the political agenda**
We are determined to make kidney disease a greater political priority. Last year, our work to mobilise our supporter base and bring the kidney cause to UK governments and politicians paid dividends. Through our Vote Kidney campaign, over 1,000 supporters used our tools to engage with their local candidates about the realities of kidney disease during the General Election. This show of support has helped us build a strong foundation of kidney champions at Westminster. Increasing numbers of politicians attended the events we ran in Westminster and Holyrood and we helped bolster the activities in the All-Party Parliamentary Kidney Group. We also collaborated on policy initiatives with the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK and the Stroke Association.
We contributed to the government’s 10 Year Health Plan consultation, using evidence from our own reports to show the urgent need to improve kidney care. In July 2025 the plan was announced and without any specific recommendations on the kidney disease pathway, it became clear we would have to advocate for kidney disease to be included among the promised condition-specific modern service frameworks to roll out effective care and prevention strategies.
## **Working with partners for the biggest impact**
Partnership work continues to help us drive progress, including by co-funding research with like-minded organisations. We were able to co-fund targeted grant calls to fill vital research gaps, such as how to address the challenges of nephrotoxicity (where the kidneys have been damaged by medication).
The Robert Dangoor Partnership for Living Kidney Donation, which we deliver together with Give a Kidney has gone from strength to strength this year. Lord Darzi accepted the role of patron of the partnership and we launched the UK Living Kidney Donation Buddy Support Service connecting people interested in becoming a kidney donor with someone who has been a donor, providing a safe and secure place for open conversations. The partnership supported their first
donor through the donation process, which helped unlock a chain of donors enabling three successful transplants.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25
**3**
## **Patients’ storytelling power**
This is just a handful of the amazing individuals who shared their stories through us last year.
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Jennie Parker and sister Sue
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Daniel Newman Liam Ward
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Adam Musa
Hafsa Begum Roman Newell
## **Increasing patient representation**
We work with and for those who are impacted by kidney disease – it’s a simple enough mantra, but history shows that representing all patients and families takes real commitment. Our reports demonstrate the consequences of failing to achieve true representation in medical research, in the creation of services and in the delivery of care – for example, when people’s economic circumstances mean they cannot afford to miss work to attend medical appointments. As part of our own commitment to redressing the balance, last year we progressed our work in benchmarking the backgrounds and experiences of our research volunteers and employing new strategies to address gaps in those who are represented.
Our success in improving representation also lies in the breadth of shared experiences seen on our digital channels and in the media, with over 100 diverse individuals’ stories helping us to engage with existing and new supporters last year. We are humbled by the selflessness of all those who share their experiences to help others, and value their feedback.
Siblings Olly and Etta were the heroes of our festive campaign, helping us raise an incredible £71,000 for vital research. Mum Dionne shared an emotional account of life with their rare genetic condition, of Olly’s successful transplant, and of the family’s hopes that Etta will soon receive a precious new kidney too.
Others enjoy supporting the charity in person, and we have been delighted that our renal unit liaison activity is going from strength to strength, with more and more volunteers working in units across the UK. This has given staff and patients in each unit even more opportunity to learn about our work, and how to get involved with research and fundraising. Meanwhile, we continue to provide vital support to patients who want to participate in or help design research studies, with the 3,000 members of our Kidney Voices for Research group able to find out about over 150 opportunities to shape or take part in research last year.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **4**
## **Fundraisers making a difference, every day**
We can’t thank our supporters enough: from the 7,000 people who give to us regularly through direct debits, to the 3,000 new donors who joined our lottery, to all those who take part in our fundraising events or devise their own. In 2024, we saw a brilliant turnout at our in-person events, with our amazing London Marathon runners raising over £170,000 and more than 2,300 people joined our Bridges Walks in London, Glasgow and Newcastle, raising almost £243,000.
We greeted over 200 guests at our Andy Cole Fund Gala, who helped us raise £110k towards research into supporting patients’ mental health after transplant. And the pipeline for our legacy income continues to build, thanks to our generous supporters who last year made £1.5m in pledges to leave a gift in their Will.
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Andy Cole and Nina Nannar
at our Andy Cole Fund Gala.
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Having lost his mum to polycystic kidney disease, Kevin’s experiences show why the work of the PKD Partnership is so important – see page 7.
## **‘Singing plumber’ gave his all in memory of mum**
A musician with an extraordinary backstory took to multiple stages to fundraise and volunteer for us in memory of his mum last year.
After a 25-year hiatus from music, 51-year-old Kev Crane, from Leicestershire, was signed to a record contract when a music producer overheard him singing while he was working on a plumbing job in his home. He went on to land a movie deal about his life when Hollywood screenwriters picked up his story, fascinated by his journey of plumber to pop star.
Kev has harnessed his new-found fame to raise awareness and funds to further kidney research – a cause close to him since he sadly lost his mother, who had polycystic kidney disease (PKD). As well as raising funds at every gig during his tour last year, Kev performed at our Newcastle and London Bridges Walks, warming up thousands of supporters with his musical talents.
Kev says: “My grandad, uncle, aunt and mum all had PKD before they passed away – it has had a devastating impact on our family. I was heartbroken when my mum died and wanted to do something in her memory to help kidney patients and their families.
“I thoroughly enjoyed performing at the Bridges Walks, I had a blast.“
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **5**
## **What we did to… Accelerate discovery**
Our annual research investment last year exceeded £11m for the first time, taking the number of active funded research studies to 128 and maximising opportunities to increase the pace and impact of positive change on kidney health through collaboration, funding and innovation.
## **Multiple health conditions**
We continued to drive progress on tackling the crucial interplay between kidney disease and multiple health conditions, collaborating with many fellow charities. Breakthrough T1D and Diabetes UK worked with us to jointly publish a series of research recommendations. And we worked with Diabetes UK on a continuous professional development (CPD) programme on kidney disease for healthcare professionals caring for diabetes patients, rolling out shortly.
Our grants programme continues to offer hope to those with kidney disease who experience more than one condition, including through the work of surgeon Emma Aitken, who received an award from the Andy Cole Fund to help understand the mental health impact of complications following a kidney transplant, so tailored support can be developed. And Professor Simon Satchell received a grant to develop potential new treatments for kidney damage in patients with diabetes.
## **Driving research and change for the 160,000 living with rare kidney diseases**
Rare kidney diseases are a key focus for our organisation. Despite only causing between 5% to 10% of all cases of CKD at the most advanced stages, they make up 25% of all dialysis and transplant patients. This year we were proud to launch The LifeArc-Kidney Research UK Centre for Rare Kidney Diseases, which will lead to improved diagnostics, treatments, and potentially cures, for thousands of adults and young people living with rare kidney diseases, addressing an enormous unmet need. The generous £9.4m investment by LifeArc, together with a further £1m from Kidney Research UK is already creating new focus, uniting researchers, patients and healthcare professionals from all 13 of the UK’s children’s kidney centres, with two paediatric clinical trials in development.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25
**6**
## **Building greater multi-disciplinary talent in research**
Health professionals from many different disciplines contribute to kidney patient care and have much to offer research, using their varied experiences to investigate ways to improve treatment and practice. In 2024, co-funding from ANNUK, Northern Counties Kidney Research Fund, Alder Hey Children’s Kidney Fund and Pharmacy Research UK allowed us to introduce grants rounds specifically for nurses and pharmacists.
Sarah McMillan received one of our first nurses’ awards to examine problems with dialysis patients’ vascular access (where a sturdy blood vessel is surgically created to allow regular access with needles for haemodialysis). Using healthcare data, Sarah will identify key risk factors to try to avoid repeated surgeries and complications.
## **Working in collaboration**
Many relationships bore fruit, including our second joint symposium with the Francis Crick Institute, bringing together researchers and ideas across institutions and disciplines. And we brought greater focus to polycystic kidney disease (PKD), establishing the PKD Partnership together with The PKD Charity, uniting patients, researchers and clinicians to transform treatments through a national programme of research, data collation and innovation.
The Stoneygate and Kidney Research UK Alport Research Hub is continuing to make good progress, with dedicated funding facilitating new projects into Alport syndrome including Dr Kenton Arkill’s study investigating how pregnancy impacts patients’ kidney health, and Professor Dan Jagger’s project targeting the causes of hearing loss.
## **Utilising the power of data**
NURTuRE is our unique kidney bioresource that contains consenting patients’ healthcare data and biological samples. Thanks to a £4.7m investment secured last year from industry partners, this is expanding to include data and samples from people with acute kidney injury (AKI), in addition to the existing 3,000-strong cohort for chronic kidney disease and 800 people with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Adding to this rich repository opens up even greater potential for discoveries and treatment pathways to improve patients’ lives.
With our funding Dr Jennie Chandler, at University College London hopes to offer new approaches to rare kidney diseases.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25
**7**
## **What we did to… Make it count**
We sought more ways to speed up progress – pushing forward promising innovations, engaging decision makers and sharing vital new evidence – so that discoveries can be rapidly translated into better treatments and practices.
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Attendees at the Sikh Temple (Gurdwara) in Cardiff
learning about risk factors for kidney disease at one
of our awareness events.
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Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25
**8**
## **Leading by example in health inequalities**
In July 2024, we launched our report, Time To Act: A New Review of Kidney Health Inequalities, using it to call for urgent action to address the issues which put some people at greater risk of kidney disease and impede access to treatment and care. We launched the report at an event in parliament and raised its profile at Diabetes UK’s Professional Conference and at the World Congress hosted by the International Society of Nephrology.
As part of our organisational commitments, we are asking researchers seeking funding from us to show how their applications help further the report recommendations. We are also taking steps to ensure the research we fund does not perpetuate bias and inequality through lack of representation in patient participation and sample or data collection.
Meanwhile, we took on a key role as strategic advisers to an industry-led initiative that aims to support people at a high risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and communities where accessing the right care can be more challenging due to socioeconomic disparities and limited resources. Launched in March 2025 by Boehringer Ingelheim and in partnership with the NHS, two projects under the SPOT CKD (Screening, Prevention, Outreach and Treatment for Health Equity) initiative are running in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and North East and North Cumbria.
And our grassroots work in inequalities continues to grow from strength to strength. Our Scottish Government-funded project using our peer educator model to spread awareness of organ donation in South Asian communities entered its 12th year. Additionally, we have benefited from the support of local experts in the development phase of our new peer educator initiative to support target communities at risk of kidney disease in the Peterborough area.
## **Other reports proving value**
We took significant steps to maximise the outcomes from our 2023 report into the economic impact of kidney disease. A peer reviewed paper developed in 2024 was published in May 2025 in the Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research, enabling even greater use by professional audiences needing to evidence the growing threat of kidney disease and the necessity of urgent interventions. And we highlighted the significant cost savings and health benefits that could be achieved through expanded access to medications called SGLT2-inhibitors, which can protect people with kidney disease from reaching kidney failure and reduce their cardiovascular risks.
We’ve also continued to use our 2023 report into mental health and kidney disease to drive home the human cost of the disease when briefing MPs, and this spurred a joint roundtable event and a panel discussion at the annual conference UK Kidney Week.
In Scotland, we launched a new action plan for chronic kidney disease. This lays out the steps and investment needed by the government to improve the monitoring of people with diabetes and heart disease who are at most risk of CKD, to support GPs and other primary care staff to lead on diagnosis and management, and to ensure patients can access specialist emotional, practical and digital support. The plan continues to form the basis of discussions with Holyrood decision makers.
Professor Jeremy Hughes, chair of the steering group for the CKD Action Plan for Scotland.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **9**
## **What we did to… Strive for excellence**
We sought better ways of working and strengthened our long-term sustainability by investing in ways to improve our efficiency while we grow.
## **Fine-tuning plans to enable growth**
It was time to take stock, as we reached the midway point in our ten-year charity strategy, originally launched in 2020, and consider how best to refresh our plans and move us closer to our vision of the day when everyone lives free from kidney disease. We have emerged from the post-pandemic years fortified with new insights from our research and policy work, with new and emerging relationships with more patients, clinicians, researchers and businesses, and determined to stop kidney disease devastating lives.
Starting in 2024, building on our learnings, we consulted with stakeholders to prepare a revised strategy, to scale up and accelerate our goals to:
- Prevent more people from developing kidney disease by finding new interventions to reduce the risk
- Protect those living with kidney disease from kidney failure by enabling better access to treatments and earlier diagnosis
- Transform treatments for those who are living with kidney failure so more people live well, with better long-term outcomes.
## **Utilising digital opportunities to increase effectiveness**
We made improvements to our technical infrastructure. This included beginning the work to move to an updated database for our research grants, which will improve efficiency, strengthen communications with our research community and enable more valuable reporting. We have been developing our IT strategy, including a focus on internal data, aiming to strengthen data governance and compliance, enhance data quality and accessibility, foster a data-driven culture, and further enhance our reporting and visualisation.
## **Improving sustainability**
In a further extension of our commitment to the environment, our investments have been evaluated and now only focus on sustainable organisations which aim to have a positive impact on people and the planet.
We maintained our network of sustainability champions and furthered progress on our merchandise and event materials, for example ensuring that all supporters’ challenge medals are made from wood, rather than metal. Looking outwardly at how we can help address the environmental impact of treatments for kidney disease, we have also begun to explore the research potential of more sustainable health interventions.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **10**
Inspired by memories of his mum, Paul Chear volunteers for Kidney Research UK by visiting patients at his local dialysis unit to share research and offer support.
## **Giving time to help others**
A father of three is dedicating time to improve life for renal patients, having spent two decades supporting his own mum through dialysis treatment.
Paul Chear volunteers for Kidney Research UK at two renal units in Birmingham.
Paul says: “I was only nine when Mum first needed dialysis. I supported her through that treatment for 20 years either side of a failed transplant. Thankfully, a second transplant gave her 15 dialysis-free years before she died in 2012, but I still remember how difficult dialysis was for our whole family.
“There are many emotions and questions that patients have about how dialysis will affect their lives. Empathetic conversations to share the right information and support can make life a little easier. I provide renal staff with Kidney Research UK leaflets to support those conversations, as well as spending time with patients myself.
“Several hours are spent on dialysis, multiple times a week, and many patients are alone. Volunteers like me visit renal units across the UK to be a listening ear and offer support, often drawing on our own experiences of dialysis. I know I’d have been grateful if somebody had visited my mum.
“We all have our own perspective on how kidney disease has impacted our lives because of our different faiths and cultures. That helps us support patients who might have questions best answered by somebody who shares their background.
“It has been such an uplifting experience supporting others. It’s rewarding seeing the impact you can have and the hope you can provide by sharing research. Visiting the renal units keeps me connected with my mum and I hope she’d be proud of me.”
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **11**
## **Our performance against the year’s objectives**
## **Accelerate discovery**
## **Strive for excellence**
## **Achieved**
**Objective:** Advance our discoveries in rare and hereditary kidney diseases.
- 9[PKD Partnership to further research and improve ] the lives of people with polycystic kidney disease in progress.
- 9[Launched The Life-Arc-Kidney Research UK Centre ] for Rare Kidney Diseases.
- 9[Development of a report on the health economic ] impact of rare kidney diseases.
- 9[Alport Research Hub work advances, including ] a roundtable held to identify future aims.
## **Achieved**
**Objective:** Increase our insight and knowledge to transform our profile, engagement and growth in priority areas.
- 9[New insights on specific audience targets delivered ] which will be utilised to build relationships.
- 9[New insights gained through the International ] Public Policy Forum, capturing new business intelligence.
- 9[IT strategy in development, including a renewed ] push on use of analysis tools.
## **Partly achieved**
## **Partly achieved**
**Objective:** Increase investment, innovation and collaboration to address unmet patient and research priorities, especially on multiple health conditions.
- 9[Partnership working with Breakthrough T1D ] and Diabetes UK to help leverage funding, though more work to do here.
- 9[Increased profile through engagement ] with professionals and patients working in cardiovascular metabolic renal medicine and primary care.
- 9[Launch of pharmacy and nurse-led awards ] with support of additional funders.
- 9[Led a roundtable on immunosuppression ] and identified opportunities.
- 9[Contributed to NIHR’s evidence collection ] on dialysis to help improve care.
**Objective:** Maximise the use of health data and AI to accelerate discoveries for patient benefit.
- 9[Committed £300k investment to support the ] new Kidney Data Catalyst and appointed a new associate director. Awarded three driver projects.
- 9[Awarded two MSc data-research scholarships: ] one to a renal pharmacist and one to a NHSBT statistician with an interest in kidney transplantation.
**Objective:** Embed a new approach to our research investment model that will allow us to be broader and more flexible across our innovation and research investment.
- 9[We continue to evolve and expand how we invest ] in research, including through partnership and implementation projects.
- 9[We are more flexible in our approaches and use ] strategies to ensure we are more responsive to new opportunities.
- 9[We are listening to and developing our grants ] panels and Lay Advisory Group to consider future needs, given our expanding portfolio and demands upon people’s time.
- 9[Work is progressing on a change of database ] for our research grants, to improve efficiency, communications and reporting.
**Objective:** Develop and publish a policy with key measurables, that will improve sustainability across the charity.
- 9[Our sustainability policy has been drafted. ]
- 9[Tactical work continued, such as the selection ] of sustainable merchandise and event materials, and improvements to office recycling.
- 9[All of our investments have been evaluated and ] only sustainable organisations are considered.
- 9[Data Research Network has hosted patient ] webinars on data research, data strategy underway.
- 9[Explorations have begun into an AI/data ] science project.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **12**
## **Make it count**
## **Achieved**
**Objective:** Publish and act on recommendations in the review of the Health Inequalities report.
- 9[Report launched at UK Kidney Week and ] featured in high profile settings.
- 9[Delivered a session on systemic barriers ] to research involvement at the Diabetes Professional Conference.
- 9[Research commissioned into disparities ] in prescribing SGLT2-inhibitors.
- 9[Prioritised research addressing health ] inequalities in our funding decisions.
- 9[Began work as a strategic adviser to SPOT CKD ] initiative targeting underserved communities to support people at higher risk of CKD.
- 9[Presented at the NHS Confederation ICS ] Network Conference.
- 9[Work continuing on existing and new peer ] educator projects addressing inequalities.
**Objective:** Use our evidence-based reports and partnerships to prioritise addressing inequalities in kidney health.
- 9[Joint symposium at Diabetes Professional Care ] Conference on our health inequalities report.
- 9[Findings from the report into the economic impact ] of kidney disease have been the catalyst for several projects seeking to address inequalities.
- 9[Extended our original report into the economic ] impact of CKD to show the advantages of expanded access to SGLT2-inhibitors.
- 9[Launched a CKD Action Plan in Scotland.]
- 9[Used evidence from our reports to inform our ] submission to the 10-Year Health Plan consultation.
**Objective:** Build and strengthen our innovation pipeline and partnerships to accelerate translation and the delivery of patient impact and benefit.
- 9[We have a stronger pipeline with more ] investment opportunities.
- 9[Expanded our industry partnership programme ] to include start-up companies, making awards through the new joint NIHR Devices for Dignity/ Kidney Research UK Translation Med Tech competition, and a competition in partnership with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
- 9[Strengthening relationships with Health Innovation ] Networks, kidney networks, clinical leadership and the integrated care boards.
- 9[The Robert Dangoor Partnership for Living Donation ] is growing with the launch of the buddy service.
## **Rally together for change**
## **Achieved**
**Objective:** Build and mobilise the kidney community in the general election year to champion and influence change with parliamentarians, government departments and other relevant stakeholders.
- 9[Supporters engaged in our election campaign, ] 101 candidates pledged to support us.
- 9[We continue to meet with senior civil servants ] and parliamentarians to make the case for kidneys to be a higher priority.
- 9[We continue to chair the Kidney Policy Forum, ] bringing together kidney charities, UK Kidney Association and industry partners.
- 9[We hosted events in the Westminster ] and Scottish Parliaments.
**Objective:** Increase patient involvement in advocacy, research, innovation and communications and better reflect the populations that kidney disease affects across all activities.
- 9[Over 3,000 people have joined our Kidney Voices ] for Research group to find out about opportunities to participate in research and support our work.
- 9[Our Lay Advisory Group is active and engaged, ] providing insight and expert input.
- 9[Increase in engagement by researchers to secure ] patient involvement in their research.
- 9[Increase in the number of people volunteering ] to review and comment on research applications, and to represent us in renal units.
- 9[Plans for improving representation in research ] underway.
## **Partly achieved**
**Objective:** Increase awareness and financial investment in kidney research.
- 9[This was one of our best income years, bringing in ] £14.5m, though this was slightly below our target.
- 9[Increased our regular giving income ] and the number of individual donors.
- 9[Increase in co-funding opportunities secured. ]
- 9[The Andy Cole Fund Gala Dinner raised £110K, ] taking the fund total to almost £0.5m.
- 9[Record numbers of people took part in our ] Bridges events.
- 9[Received 12 exceptional legacy gifts and a ] strong pipeline for the future.
- 9[Our online kidney health check tool and the ] Kidney Kit support pack continue to introduce new people to our work.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **13**
## **Our year in numbers**
**£12.52m** spent on research, awareness and education – a **9%** increase on last year
**1,150** people used our online e-action tools during the General Election to call on parliamentarians to tackle kidney disease
**26%** increase in donations through our website
**175** gifts were received from people’s Wills
**3,053** new donors joined our lottery, which generated **£406,000**
**467** volunteers gave us their time, their skills and their voice
Supporters using our Will writing service pledged **£1.5m** towards fighting kidney disease
**4,081** people jumped out of planes, ran, walked, cycled, swam, baked, quizzed, walked their dogs, raised money in memory of a loved one and celebrated, raising almost **£1.5m** for Kidney Research UK
**37** new research grants awarded
**281** of our academics and clinicians gifted their time to peer review research applications
Almost **7,000** people gave us a regular donation, generating almost **£700,000**
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **14**
## **Our objectives for 2025–2026**
We will build our foundations to support an acceleration in activity and impact in line with our updated strategy. Visit www.kidneyresearchuk.org to view our revised charity strategy which sets out our plans to 2030.
## **We will:**
**Significantly scale up our income generation activity to support future growth and delivery by:**
- Investing in our fundraising and our brand
- Developing plans for future growth
- Developing our work to enhance supporter experiences
- Seeking new funding streams for new areas of research transformation
## **Grow collaborative investment to accelerate research by:**
- Scoping out opportunities to tackle the biggest challenges
- Scoping out our future role in clinical trials and raising awareness of opportunities to take part
- Increasing investment in rare and hereditary disease research
- Further establishing the PKD partnership
- Progressing the NURTuRE biobank delivery and strategy
## **Increase support for adopting research into clinical practice by:**
- Investing in our implementation science capacity and capability
- Accelerating the generation of real-world evidence of patient benefit
**Ramp up work on preventing kidney failure, improving rates of urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) testing to increase early detection, diagnosis and management of CKD, by:**
- Increasing awareness of CKD and importance of uACR testing with healthcare professionals (particularly primary care) and policymakers
- Scaling up our programme on early detection and diagnosis in underserved communities
- Calling on policymakers to introduce a targeted screening programme
- Incentivise the use of the Kidney Failure Risk Equation prediction tool
## **Increase investment in supporting innovation, enterprise and translational research by:**
- Growing and planning the utilisation of a fund dedicated to accelerating innovation
- Exploring and scoping future opportunities
- Strengthening relationships with industry partners
## **Invest in growing our capacity to support the delivery of our strategic plan by:**
- Investing in systems to maximise and future-proof our existing infrastructure
- Developing AI and data strategies to accelerate research discoveries and improve our effectiveness
- Growing our workforce and our volunteer capacity and capabilities
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **15**
## **Report from the trustees**
## **Financial review**
## **Public benefit**
When reviewing aims, objectives and planning future activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The trustees ensure that the charity’s activities are in line with the aims of Kidney Research UK.
This trustees’ annual report, read in conjunction with the impact report in the preceding pages, is intended to show how the charity’s activities over the course of the year have progressed our wider contribution for public benefit.
The charity saw a welcome increase in income during the year, despite ongoing economic challenges. Charities are operating in a difficult environment, and we are reassured, but not complacent, about the resilience of our voluntary income streams in particular. Legacies have been especially strong in 2024/25, and account for almost 40% of our income. However, we are only too aware that the level of legacies can fluctuate from year to year, so we continue to invest in ways of diversifying our income base. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all our supporters and partners for their remarkable generosity and commitment in driving an increase in income in such testing times.
The increase in income over 2023/24 allowed us to maintain our planned acceleration of investment in critical research – enabling us to fund a £1.2 million increase in charitable spend across the year. We funded £5.5m of new research awards as well as £1.8m of additional awards to existing research partnerships. As a result, our overall long-term commitment to groundbreaking research rose by £1.9 million to £21.8 million.
Our investments showed a small unrealised loss of £0.3 million in the year. This reflects the accounting treatment of the carrying value of our investment portfolio. We apply a long-term time horizon to our investments and continue to monitor the appropriateness of our investment policy, supported by our retained fund managers.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **16**
## **Where our income came from**
This was one of our best income years, with a 6.8% increase in total income on the previous year, despite not receiving the level of statutory funding which was included in 2023/24. This was driven by a significant increase in legacies and donations.
Legacies rose by over £1.3 million to almost £5.7 million (up 31.1%); donations increased by £0.2 million to almost £3.4 million (up 5.6%).
Online donations, as well as traditional face to face fundraising, increased over the year.
Investment income was closely in line with the previous year at almost £1 million.
Income from charitable activity, by way of grants received, reduced by £0.6 million to £3.8 million – this reflects lower statutory funding year-on-year.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Investment income
£0.9 million
Other trading
£0.7 million
Donations, gifts
and appeals This includes charity shop income
and income from raffles
£3.4 million
This includes one-off
donations as well as
regular giving
Total income
£14.5 million
Legacies
£5.7 million
Income from
charitable activity
£3.8 million
This includes income
from trusts and
partnerships who have
supported our work
**----- End of picture text -----**
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25
**17**
## **Where the money is spent**
Total expenditure was £16.1 million across research, awareness and education, investment in raising funds and support costs.
Charitable expenditure reached £12.5 million in the year, an increase of £1.2 million over the previous year.
**Trading £0.8 million**
**Awareness and education £1.3 million**
This includes working with patients and raising awareness of kidney disease
This includes the cost of running our charity shops and raffles, as well as a one-off dilapidation on a shop closure
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Investment
management costs
£0.1 million
**----- End of picture text -----**
**Generating income costs £2.7 million**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Total expenditure
£16.1 million
Research
£11.2 million
This includes
research and career
development
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Pence in the pound invested in research and awareness:**
**78 pence 79 pence in the pound in the pound in 2024/25 in 2023/24**
The charity strives to continuously improve efficiency and to invest as much as possible of each pound in research and raising awareness of kidney disease. At the same time, we continue to invest in areas like fundraising and income diversification, which will help to ensure that our commitment to groundbreaking research can be funded in the long term.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **18**
## **Investments**
As at the 31 March 2025 the charity’s investment portfolios together with cash deposits totalled £18.5 million (broadly in line with the previous year).
Our growth funds portfolio generated a total return of +0.9%, which was behind the long-term performance target of CPI +4%, and behind the ARC Steady Growth indices for Charities of +2.7%. Since being fully invested in the fund for 18 months, the fund has returned +11.6% p.a. net of fees whilst maintaining exposure to global equity markets. The 2024–25 period was marked by continued volatility in global markets, driven by geopolitical uncertainty and fluctuating interest rates. Despite these challenges, the investment portfolio continues to align with the charity’s long-term goals of sustainable capital growth, ethical stewardship, and positive impact.
## **Financial position**
Total reserves at the balance sheet date were £12.4 million (2024: £12.4 million) of which:
- £0.8 million was in restricted funds (£1.4 million in 2024)
- £8.9 million in designated funds (£10.1 million in 2024)
- £2.7 million in general funds (£2.9 million in 2024).
## **Reserves policy**
The charity’s policy is to maintain the following reserves:
- Restricted funds – funds that have been donated to the charity for a specific purpose.
- Designated funds – unrestricted funds identified and committed or ringfenced for expenditure on research, awareness and education, partnership development and key operational commitments.
- General funds – funds available to meet any unforeseen circumstances which the charity may face. The benchmark for the charity’s general funds has been set at three to nine months of operating expenditure, which is intended:
- a) to cover a period of continuity for key operations in the event of unforeseen circumstances which prevents the charity from generating voluntary income
- b) to ensure all liabilities and costs associated with winding up can be discharged
- c) to provide sufficient working capital where expenditure is needed in advance of income being received
- d) to support new initiatives and opportunities
- e) to protect against other adverse events such as losing key staff, disasters and reputational damage
Restricted funds held at the year-end are £0.4 million.
Other discrete funds have been designated at the year-end, reflecting the intention to increase research funding in pursuit of our strategic priorities and to develop strategic partnerships for the benefit of kidney patients.
The general funds at year end are the equivalent of four months of operating expenditure which is within the three to nine months benchmark. Trustees are satisfied and reassured that available cash reserves and general funds will enable the charity to meet its liabilities when due.
## **Investment policy**
Reserves are supported by the charity’s investment portfolio which is actively managed by Cazenove Capital. The portfolio is divided into two parts: a growth fund held in the Cazenove Sustainable MultiAsset Fund; and a cash fund held on deposit. The charity also actively maintains a stance whereby no more than 50% of all liquidity (investments and cash in hand) is held in equities. The investment objective of the first fund is to maximise long term total return while maintaining a level of diversification within an intermediate risk profile. The total return target against which the portfolio is managed is CPI +4%pa. The charity’s investment mandate stipulates no direct investment in tobacco-related financial vehicles.
The Finance and Risk Committee reviews the investment mandate regularly and monitors performance and position of the portfolio against agreed benchmarks.
The charity also has a number of mixed-motive or social investments. These represent minority holdings in early-stage companies which are developing various interventions which we expect to be directly beneficial to the people and communities that we serve. These include: patient education software; handheld monitoring; diagnostics; digital exercise platforms; and dialysis safety devices.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **19**
## **Structure and governance**
Kidney Research UK is a company limited by guarantee, Company Registration No. 00905963, and is registered with the Charity Commission 252892 (England and Wales) and SC039245 (Scotland). The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. In the event of the charity being wound up, company members must contribute £1. The wholly owned subsidiary company, Kidney Research Enterprises Limited, Company Registration No.02932606 undertakes trading, retail and administrative activities for the benefit of Kidney Research UK.
Kidney Research UK recognises the importance and value of good governance and continuous improvement.
The board of trustees is supported by the
Nominations and Governance Committee (NGC) chaired by the vice-chair of the board to deliver its responsibilities for charity governance standards and appointments to the board, facilitating diversity in the governance structure, and ensuring the right mix of skills and experience. This committee leads the implementation and monitoring of board effectiveness action plans and is responsible for the delivery of future reviews. A full review, coordinated by an external expert, was conducted in the first half of 2025 and made its initial report to trustees in June 2025. The NGC manages trustee succession planning, including the recruitment and appointment of new trustees.
The charity has a trustee board which is composed of 13 trustees at 31 March 2025. This number may increase for short periods to ensure continuity of knowledge between outgoing and incoming trustees. Skill mix and length of service are monitored through the Nominations and Governance Committee to ensure we keep a good balance on the board and plan succession in a timely way. The board is supported by a number of subcommittees, the Development Advisory Board and Lay Advisory Group which report to the trustee board and are integral to supporting the work of the charity. Members of the sub-committees and the Development Advisory Board include trustees, staff and in some instances, external subject-matter experts. The trustee board meets four times a year, with the meetings led by the chair and supported by the vice chair.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **20**
## **Trustees**
The following people have been members of our board of trustees during the year and to the date of signing:
|**Trustees**|**Position**
**on board**
**Appointed**
**or retired**
**Subcommittee membership**|
|---|---|
|**Matthew Newcombe-Ellis**
BA (Hons)|Chair
Appointed
26/03/24
Finance and Risk Committee,
Nominations and Governance Committee,
Remuneration Committee,
Research Strategy Committee
Chair-elect Appointed
29/06/23|
|**Ben Digby**
BA (Hons), MSc|Vice Chair
Appointed
22/06/20
Nominations and Governance Committee (chair),
Remuneration Committee|
|**Professor Elizabeth Lightstone**
MBBS (Hons), MA, PhD, FRCP|Member
Appointed
06/12/18
Research Strategy Committee|
|**Professor Caroline Savage**
MD, PhD, FRCP, FMedSci|Member
Appointed
25/03/19
Research Strategy Committee|
|**Angela Watt**
RN|Member
Appointed
25/06/19
Nominations and Governance Committee,
Research Strategy Committee|
|**Lisa Chan**
BSc, MBA|Member
Appointed
23/03/21
Finance and Risk Committee (chair),
Remuneration Committee (chair)|
|**Professor Sir John Cunningham**
BA, BM BCh, MRCP, FRCP, DM,
CVO, KCVO|Member
Appointed
28/06/21
Research Strategy Committee|
|**Ian Dodd**
BA (Hons) ACMA|Member
Appointed
02/01/23
Finance and Risk Committee|
|**Professor Simon Davies**
BSc (Hons) MBBS,
MRCP, MD, FRCP|Member
Appointed
01/03/23
Research Strategy Committee (chair)|
|**Claire Sharpe**
PG, FRCP, CCST, PhD, MRCP,
MBBS, iBSc|Member
Appointed
19/12/23
Research Strategy Committee|
|**John E. Milad**
BA|Member
Appointed
19/12/23|
|**Tejal Amin**
FCA, MA (Hons)|Member
Appointed
25/06/24
Nominations and Governance Committee|
|**Moin Saleem**
FRCP, PhD, MRCP|Member
Appointed
25/06/24
Research Strategy Committee|
|**Dr David Hughes**
PhB, MBChB, FRCPCH|Member
Resigned
17/12/24
Nominations and Governance Committee,
Research Strategy Committee|
Trustees are encouraged to use their specific skills and experience in the charity. Training is provided throughout their service. All instances where a trustee may have a conflict of interest are recorded and dealt with in a transparent way, in accordance with established procedures. The trustees set the strategy of the charity with the Executive Directors and wider team and oversee its implementation.
Trustees initially sit on the board for three years. They can be re-elected for another three years after which they must retire. After a clear minimum gap of three years off the board, trustees may elect them to return for a three-year term – giving a total service to the board of nine years. The three-year gap ensures that the board’s membership has sufficiently changed from their previous period of service. We would like to extend our thanks to all trustees for their time and expertise.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **21**
## **Board and sub-committee structure**
Sub committees, the Lay Advisory Group and Development Advisory Board work under terms of reference agreed with the board to support the delivery of the strategy.
- The Research Strategy Committee (RSC) sets the strategy for research funding.
- The Research Grants Committee (RGC), made up of both experts in renal science and patients, reviews grant applications under a rigorous peer review process and recommends which research should be funded.
- The Finance and Risk Committee (F&RC) monitors the charity’s financial planning and performance, governance and risk management.
- The Nominations and Governance Committee (NGC) is responsible for the charity’s governance standards and appointments to the board, facilitating diversity in the governance structure, and ensuring the right mix of skills and experience.
- The Remuneration Committee (RC) oversees the charity’s remuneration policy and its implementation.
- The Lay Advisory Group (LAG) drives and strengthens patient and public involvement within the charity.
- The Development Advisory Board (DAB) makes recommendations on investment and commercialisation opportunities that support the charity’s strategic priorities.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **22**
## **Management**
During the year a revised leadership structure was agreed; this is a key enabler of the charity’s ambitions and growth plans. The new executive leadership team will now consist of the chief executive and senior leaders responsible for five restructured directorates: chief operating officer; chief income and engagement officer; chief research officer; director of human resources; and director of policy and public affairs. This new structure is well advanced, with all appointments expected to be in place by September 2025. During this period, the chief executive has been supported by a transitional leadership structure comprised of experienced senior experts within the team.
## **Remuneration**
The Kidney Research UK policy on remuneration (pay and benefits) is guided by the following principles:
- Fair to employees, supporters and general public
- Allows us to recruit and retain the appropriate calibre of staff to deliver strategic outcomes
- Recognises and rewards contribution to the charity
- Compliant with current legislation
- Recognises best practise in the charity sector including transparency to staff and other stakeholders
Our policy is to position our pay levels at the median rate, based on local and national market data. With the exception of apprentices and interns who fall under a different pay arrangement, we are committed to paying all our employees the living wage as a minimum.
Jobs are grouped into grades, with clear published definitions against which all roles can be assessed. Salary bands are sufficiently broad to provide flexibility when recruiting and to allow growth within roles.
When a role is created or becomes vacant, the job will be evaluated based on an up-to-date job description, the grade will be checked and the salary benchmarked, looking at internal comparisons and the appropriate external market data.
## **Staff development**
Continuing from previous years, personal and professional training and development was a goal for 2024/25. During the past year, we have continued with both face-to-face and online professional training and development across the charity. This has included the following for all staff: mental health and wellbeing at work; RNID deaf awareness seminar; and an Introduction to Neurodiversity. We also provided line manager training and coaching and time management and prioritisation training, as well as specific bespoke training for individual job roles to support staff development. We have also recruited a part-time learning and development manager who will review our induction process and support staff to meet their full potential.
Our programme of formal and continuous cyber security training and testing across the charity continued as a focus, being an area of significant risk to all organisations, particularly with the team working remotely during the year.
We continue to work with Birdsong Charity Consulting who run our biennial staff survey and help us to work with staff on any areas identified as needing improvement. We are pleased that the results for 2024 show that 99% of our employees believe in the aims of Kidney Research UK and 94% of our employees are proud to work for Kidney Research UK.
## **Grant making**
We apply an open and transparent approach to grant making. Applications for research funding are formally reviewed by experts in the field and kidney patients. Any potential conflicts of interest are carefully managed by the charity. Assessments are based on both scientific quality and the potential impact for patients, as well as the views of patients in terms of the importance of the topic to them. Our Research Grants Committee, or occasionally a bespoke sub-panel, makes funding recommendations to trustees for their approval.
You can find more information about our research strategy on our website.
The annual salary review takes place in July, and the Remuneration Committee review the process and proposals, including for senior staff, to ensure fairness and compliance. The performance of the charity is also taken into account, when considering any pay review.
Recommendations will be informed by external benchmarking, for which we look at a combination of local data, national data, charitable sector data and data from a sample of other medical research charities, and other comparable employers.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **23**
## **Our fundraising approach**
The unwavering commitment and passion from our financial supporters continued to inspire us throughout the year. Our sincere thanks goes to all our Team Kidney supporters who stand with us and support us financially despite the continuing tough economic environment.
The charity’s income programme remains deliberately diverse. Our legacy income reached a record high in 2024/25 and this remains a crucial source of income for us. The generosity of those who have left money in their Wills to further our work remains a constant source of inspiration. The number of supporters playing our lottery and giving on a regular basis continued to grow – this is a critical source of income and allows us to plan with confidence for future research. We also saw recordbreaking numbers at our events such as the London, Glasgow and Newcastle Bridges Walks, and created a very special fundraising experience at the Andy Cole Fund Gala in November 2024. We saw a significant increase in engagement through our website and social media channels, which allowed supporters to access valuable tools such as our online health check.
Our volunteers often don’t want any recognition or acknowledgement for their efforts, but we continue to be amazed by the generosity of giving their time, voice and money as we strive to accelerate research into kidney disease. Thank you.
As a charity, we are committed to the highest standards of fundraising and work hard to help our supporters to support us in their own, individual ways. Whilst our income is generated from many different sources, we ensure all our fundraising activities adhere to the Code of Fundraising Practice and we are registered with both the Fundraising Regulator and Fundraising Preference Service.
We aim to ensure everyone who gives Kidney Research UK a gift of money, time, donated items or supports us in other ways will receive the best possible experience and that we exceed their expectations.
Because we fundraise in many ways and engage with thousands of supporters every year, we work with carefully selected partners and ensure we have robust policies in place to ensure our fundraising ethics are adhered to and reinforced through our fundraising volunteers and staff.
We know that sometimes we don’t get things right. Therefore, we encourage supporters to share their ideas on how we can improve and to raise any concerns. We respond to all complaints within two working days and resolve them as soon as possible. We have a robust reporting process enabling us to learn from our supporters where we have not met their expectations and, where appropriate, improve our fundraising practices. During 2024/25 we received eight complaints, which is a small proportion of the number of engagements we have with our supporters.
Procedures and training are in place to ensure that relevant staff and volunteers at the charity understand their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable people. We have a safeguarding vulnerable persons policy that is reviewed by the executive team on an annual basis, as well as documenting and implementing bespoke processes and procedures for internal activity (such as events) and with our agencies and partners who work with supporters on behalf of the charity to protect vulnerable people.
## **Sustainable governance and fundraising**
In 2024/25 the charity continued to use fewer environmentally harmful approaches. We have started to explore with partner organisations the potential for research into more sustainable health interventions, such as those which require significantly less water to operate. In addition, we maintained an internal network of sustainability champions across the charity. We have moved some of our fundraising and supporter engagement from offline print to online experiences, as well as significantly reducing the amount of single use plastic for our fundraising incentives and event medals.
## **Risk management**
We are committed to effective risk management as an integral part of ensuring good charity governance. The Finance and Risk Committee oversees our exposure to risk, ensures that we have adequate risk management systems in place and reports on risk to the full board of trustees. We limit exposure to risks by following recognised good practice in ensuring our compliance with the law and other obligations, having clear and meaningful measures to check progress against our goals and having a risk management structure which enables us to act promptly when necessary.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **24**
## **Risk management processes in place include:**
A monthly review by the executive directors of risks to the charity as a whole and to significant projects.
Risks identified through this process are recorded in the risk register under the traffic light system which is an effective method of indicating the relative level of risk exposure. Responsibility for monitoring each risk together with mitigating controls/actions is allocated to an executive director.
The Finance and Risk Committee carries out a quarterly review of the risk register, including movement and mitigation plans and actions. This is considered an effective way for trustees to evaluate significant risks to the charity, to establish the degree to which they are controlled and moderated, and to determine necessary action. This is then presented quarterly to the full trustee board.
The Finance and Risk Committee receives reports and recommendations from our external auditors on the effectiveness of controls and recommendations.
There is a whistleblowing policy in place supported by clear and accessible procedures.
## **Principal risks identified and mitigating controls**
The principal risks identified are as follows:
|**Category**|**Risk**|**Control**|
|---|---|---|
|**Cyber**|**•** Key systems and data|**•** Cyber Essentials accreditation regained and we plan to|
|**security**|compromised through|maintain mandatory training for all staff, with attendance|
||harmful actions of external|and testing reported|
||parties|**•** Utilisation of control environment, including: multi-factor|
|||authorisation; antivirus; frewalls; backups; regular auditing|
|||and testing|
|**Resource**|**•** Capacity remains stretched|**•** Progressing recruitment against the new structure prioritised|
|**capacity**|whilst growing team|**•** The charity has a structured approach to staff support and|
||for projects and growth|retention.|
||opportunities, and the
process of embedding and
inducting new staff.
**•** Vacancies and absences
result in stretched capacity
and skills gaps.|**•** The biennial staff survey provides feedback and highlights
areas for improvement.
**•** Roles and responsibilities of leavers are reviewed before
recruitment of replacements to ensure headcount is used
most effectively.
**•** Monitoring of pressure points whilst balancing need for cost|
|||saving against staff resource.|
|||**•** Programme to reallocate tasks and roles considering|
|||secondments.|
|||**•** Induction and recruitment plans in place|
|||**•** Use of specialist interim resource where needed|
|**Global**|**•** Ongoing global uncertainty|**•** Regular monitoring of asset values working with retained|
|**economic**|bringing disruption and|fund manager|
|**uncertainty**|volatility to areas like|**•** Long- and short-term liquidity modelling|
||investment values|**•** Maintenance of effective reserves polices, with targeted|
|||designated funds in place|
|||**•** Targeted KPIs on income generation programme|
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **25**
## **Statement of trustees’ responsibilities**
The trustees (who are also the directors of Kidney Research UK for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and 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 charity and the group and of the income and expenditure, of the group for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in Accounting and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the United Kingdom and Ireland (FRS102);
- make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
Each of the trustees confirms that:
- so far as the trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity’s auditor is unaware; and
- the trustee has taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a trustee in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity’s auditor is aware of that information.
This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of s418 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
The trustees’ report signed on their behalf by:
**Matthew Newcombe-Ellis Chair of Kidney Research UK 26 September 2025**
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and group and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **26**
## **Independent auditors’ report to the members of Kidney Research UK**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of Kidney Research UK (the ’company’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, the Charitable Company Statement of Financial Activities, the Consolidated and Charitable Company Balance Sheets, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and the parent charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of the group’s incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs(UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **27**
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006**
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
- the information given in the trustees’ annual report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
- trustees’ annual report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and parent charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ annual report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- the parent charitable company has not kept adequate and sufficient accounting records, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
- the parent charitable company’s financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
- the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies exemption in preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and from preparing a strategic report.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **28**
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 26, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group and parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## **Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
We have been appointed as auditor under the Companies Act 2006 and section 151 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with those Acts.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK) we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
- Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not
detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
- Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purposes of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the group and parent charitable company’s internal control.
- Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the trustees.
- Conclude on the appropriateness of the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the group and parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the group or parent charitable company to cease to continue as a going concern.
- Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
- Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within the group to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit report.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **29**
## **Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud**
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of noncompliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.
The objectives of our audit in respect of fraud, are; to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud; to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses to those assessed risks; and to respond appropriately to instances of fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both management and those charged with governance of the charitable company.
Our approach was as follows:
- We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the charitable company and considered that the most significant are the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, the Charity SORP, and UK financial reporting standards as issued by the Financial Reporting Council and UK taxation legislation.
- We obtained an understanding of how the charitable company complies with these requirements by discussions with management and those charged with governance.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and, in respect of the consolidated financial statements, to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 8 of the Charities Act 2011. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members and trustees those matters which we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to any party other than the charitable company, the charitable company’s members, as a body, and the charity’s trustees, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinion we have formed.
**Luke Holt (Senior Statutory Auditor)**
**For and on behalf of Moore Kingston Smith LLP, Statutory Auditor**
**9 Appold Street London EC2A 2AP**
**2 October 2025**
- We assessed the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements, including the risk of material misstatement due to fraud and how it might occur, by holding discussions with management and those charged with governance.
- We inquired of management and those charged with governance as to any known instances of non-compliance or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations.
- Based on this understanding, we designed specific appropriate audit procedures to identify instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. This included making enquiries of management and those charged with governance and obtaining additional corroborative evidence as required.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **30**
## **Financial statements**
The tables in this section use parentheses to show that a number is negative.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25
**31**
## **Consolidated statement of financial activities**
## **(Incorporating an income and expenditure account) Year to 31 March 2025**
|**Category**|**Detail**
**Notes**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£’000**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£’000**
**2025**
**£’000**
**2024**
**restated**
**£’000**|
|---|---|
|**Income**|Donations and legacies
1
9,032
13
9,045
7,516|
||Other trading activities
12
663
-
663
791|
||Investment income
2
975
-
975
849|
||Income from charitable activities
3
342
3,463
3,805
4,407|
||**Total income**
**11,012**
**3,476**
**14,488**
**13,563**|
|**Expenditure**|Costs of generating funds:
Raising donations and legacies
2,260
478
2,738
1,958|
||Costs of generating funds:
Fundraising trading: cost of goods
sold and other costs
831
-
831
928|
||Costs of generating funds:
Investment management costs
3
-
3
37|
||**Total costs of generating funds**
**3,094**
**478**
**3,572**
**2,923**|
||Charitable activities: research
8,025
3,166
11,191
9,820|
||Charitable activities:
awareness and education
1,009
266
1,275
1,461|
||**Total charitable activities**
**9,034**
**3,432**
**12,466**
**11,281**|
||**Total expenditure**
4
**12,128**
**3,910**
**16,038**
**14,204**|
|**Net**
**(expenditure)**
**/income**|Net (expenditure)/
income before investments
(1,116)
(434)
(1,550)
(641)|
||Net (losses)/ gains on investments
11
(413)
-
(413)
658|
||**Net (expenditure)/**
**income for the year**
**(1,529)**
**(434)**
**(1,963)**
**(17)**|
|**Movement**
**in funds**|Gross transfers between funds
90
(90)
-
-|
||**Net movement in funds**
**(1,439)**
**(524)**
**(1,963)**
**(17)**|
|**Fund**
**Balances**|Brought forward at 1 April 2024
13,030
1,373
14,403
14,387|
||**Carried forward at 31 March 2025**
**11,591**
**849**
**12,440**
**14,404**|
All of the group’s activities were derived from continuing operations during the above two financial periods. All recognised gains and losses are included in the above consolidated statement of financial activities. Full prior year comparatives are included in note 22.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **32**
## **Charity only statement of financial activities**
## **(Incorporating an income and expenditure account) Year to 31 March 2025**
|**Category**|**Detail**
**Notes**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£’000**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£’000**
**2025**
**£’000**
**2024**
**restated**
**£’000**|
|---|---|
|**Income**|Donations and legacies
1
9,032
13
9,045
7,516|
||Other trading activities
2
-
-
-
-|
||Investment income
2
944
-
944
830|
||Income from charitable activities
3
342
3,463
3,805
4,407|
||**Total income**
**10,319**
**3,475**
**13,794**
**12,753**|
|**Expenditure**|Costs of generating funds:
Raising donations and legacies
2,260
478
2,738
1,958|
||Costs of generating funds:
Investment management costs
3
-
3
37|
||**Total costs of generating funds**
**2,263**
**478**
**2,741**
**1,995**|
||Charitable activities: research
8,025
3,166
11,191
9,820|
||Charitable activities:
awareness and education
1,009
266
1,275
1,461|
||**Total Charitable activities**
**9,034**
**3,432**
**12,466**
**11,281**|
||**Total expenditure**
**11,297**
**3,910**
**15,207**
**13,276**|
|**Net**
**(expenditure)**
**/income**|Net (expenditure)/
income before investments
(979)
(434)
(1,413)
(523)|
||Net (losses)/ gains on investments
11
(413)
-
(413)
658|
||**Net (expenditure)/**
**income for the year**
**(1,392)**
**(459)**
**(1,826)**
**(135)**|
|**Movement**
**in funds**|Gross transfers between funds
90
(90)
-
-|
||**Net movement in funds**
**(1,302)**
**(524)**
**(1,826)**
**(135)**|
|**Fund**
**balances**|Brought forward at 1 April 2024
12,965
1,373
14,338
14,203|
||**Carried forward at 31 March 2025**
**11,663**
**849**
**12,512**
**14,338**|
All of the charity’s activities were derived from continuing operations during the above two financial periods. All recognised gains and losses are included in the above statement of financial activities.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **33**
## **Balance sheet**
## **As at 31 March 2025**
|**Category**|**Detail**
**Notes**|**Group**
**Charity**|
|---|---|---|
|||**2025**
**£’000**
**2024**
**restated**
**£’000**
**2025**
**£’000**
**2024**
**restated**
**£’000**|
|**Fixed assets**|Tangible assets
10|280
160
280
160|
||Investments
11|16,030
17,016
16,030
17,016|
||Investments: programme related
11|-
-
-
-|
||Investments: shares in subsidiary
12|-
-
150
150|
||**Total fxed assets**|**16,310**
**17,176**
**16,460**
**17,326**|
|**Current assets**|Stocks|92
73
92
73|
||Investments
11|2,500
1,500
2,500
1,500|
||Debtors
13|11,697
9,933
11,986
11,697|
||Cash at bank and in hand|4,785
6,377
4,301
4,351|
||**Total currents assets**|**19,074**
**17,883**
**18,879**
**17,621**|
|**Liabilities**|Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
14|(11,428)
(8,308)
(11,311)
(8,262)|
||**Net current assets**|**7,646**
**9,575**
**7,568**
**9,359**|
|**Net assets**|Total assets less current liabilities|23,956
26,751
24,028
26,685|
||Creditors: amounts falling due
after one year|(11,516)
(12,347)
(11,516)
(12,347)|
||**Net assets**|**12,440**
**14,404**
**12,512**
**14,338**|
|**The funds of**
**the charity**|Restricted funds
16|849
1,373
849
1,373|
||Designated funds
17|8,881
10,076
8,881
10,076|
||General funds|2,710
2,955
2,782
2,889|
||**Total Charity funds**|**12,440**
**14,404**
**12,512**
**14,338**|
These financial statements consolidate the results of the charity and its wholly owned subsidiary, Kidney Research Enterprises Limited. As shown on the charity only statement of financial activities, the net deficit of the charity was £136,427 (£118,266 in 2024).
Approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
**Matt Newcombe-Ellis Chair of Kidney Research UK Approved on: 26 September 2025 Company Registration Number: 00905963 (England and Wales)**
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **34**
## **Consolidated statement of cash flows**
## **Year to 31 March 2025**
|**Category**|**Detail**
**Notes**
**2025**
**£’000**
**2024**
**restated**
**£’000**|
|---|---|
|**Cash fow from**
**operating activities:**|**Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities**
A
**(1,965)**
**(4,068)**|
|**Cash fow from**
**investing activities:**|Dividends and interest from investments
975
849|
||Purchase of tangible fxed assets
(176)
(134)|
||Proceeds from the disposal of investments
1,719
12,901|
||Programme related investments
-
-|
||Purchase of investments
(2,145)
(13,205)|
||**Net cash provided by investing activities**
**373**
**411**|
|**Cash and cash**
**equivalents**|Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
(1,593)
(3,657)|
||Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April
B
6,377
10,033|
||**Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March**
B
**4,785**
**6,377**|
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **35**
## **Notes to the statement of cash flows for the year to 31 March 2025**
## **A. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities**
|**Category**|**Detail**
**2025**
**£’000**
**2024**
**restated**
**£’000**|
|---|---|
|**Movements in funds**|**Net movement in funds**
**(as per the statement of fnancial activities)**
**(1,963)**
**(17)**|
|**Adjustments**|Depreciation charge
54
51|
||Gains on investments
413
(658)|
||Dividends and interest from investments
(975)
(849)|
||Impairment of investments
-
350|
||Recategorisation of investment cash in prior year
-
(5,892)|
||Discounting of grant creditors
56
195|
||Decrease (increase) in stocks
(19)
(15)|
||Decrease (increase) in debtors
(1,764)
114|
||Increase (decrease) in creditors
2,233
2,619|
|**Net cash**|**Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities**
**(1,965)**
**(4,068)**|
## **B. Analysis of net funds**
|||**1 April**||**31 March**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2024**|**Cash fow**|**2025**|
|**Category**|**Notes**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Cash at bank and in hand||6,377|(1,593)|4,785|
|Cash held by investment managers|11|-|-|-|
|**Total cash and cash equivalents**||**6,377**|**(1,593)**|**4,785**|
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **36**
## **Principal accounting policies**
## **31 March 2025**
The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are laid out below.
## **Basis of preparation**
These financial statements have been prepared for the year to 31 March 2025; the financial statements are presented in pounds sterling and are rounded to the nearest thousand.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP FRS 102) the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The charitable group constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policies below or the notes to these financial statements.
The financial statements are prepared on a consolidated basis incorporating Kidney Research UK and its wholly owned subsidiary Kidney Research Enterprises Ltd.
## **Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement**
Preparation of the financial statements requires the trustees and management to make significant judgements and estimates. The items in the financial statements where these judgements and estimates have been made include:
- estimating the liability for multi-year grant commitments;
- estimating the probability of the receipt of legacy income and estimating the amount to be received.
## **Assessment of going concern**
The trustees have assessed the financial position and have concluded there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future (being at least one year from the date of approving these financial statements). The trustees are of the opinion that the charity will have sufficient resources to meet its liabilities as they fall due and the most significant areas of judgement that affect items in the accounts are detailed above. With regard to the next accounting period, the year ending 31 March 2026, the most significant areas that affect the carrying value of the assets held by the charity are the level of investment return and the performance of the investment markets (see the investment policy and the risk management sections of the trustees’ report for more information). The Trustees are content that the level of the General Fund reserves provides sustainability for the charity to meet its existing commitments.
## **Income recognition**
Income is recognised in the period in which the charity has entitlement, the receipt is probable and the amount of income can be measured reliably. Income comprises donations, income from trading activities, income from charitable activities and investment income.
## **Donations and legacies**
Legacies are included in the statement of financial activities when probate is granted, the charity is entitled to the legacy and the executors have established there are surplus assets in the estate to pay the legacy, and any conditions attached to the legacy are within the control of the charity.
Donations are recognised when the charity has confirmation of both the amount and settlement date. In the event of donations pledged but not received, the amount is accrued where the receipt is considered probable. Where the donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **37**
In accordance with the Charities SORP FRS 102 volunteer time is not recognised.
Grants from government and other agencies have been included as income from charitable activities where these amount to a contract for services, but otherwise as donations where the money is given in response to an appeal or with greater freedom of use.
## **Donated goods**
Donated goods are normally distributed very soon after receipt by the charity. The cost of valuing all donated goods upon receipt by the charity outweighs the benefit to the users of the accounts of providing this information. Consequently, donated goods are included within income when sold or distributed and no value is placed on stock of such items at the year end.
## **Investment income**
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity. Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due.
## **Expenditure**
Expenditure comprises direct costs and support costs, accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses, including support costs, are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings. The classification between activities is as follows:
- Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure associated with raising funds for the charity. This includes investment management fees, staff costs associated with fundraising, the costs associated with fundraising trading activity and an allocation of support costs.
- Expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs associated with furthering the charitable purposes of the charity through the provision of its charitable activities. Such costs include grants and awards made for research and direct and support costs in respect to education and awareness including governance costs.
- Grants payable by the charity are included in the statement of financial activities when approved and when the intended recipient has either received the funds or been informed of the decision to make the grant and has satisfied all performance conditions. Grants approved but not paid at the end of the financial year are accrued. Grants where the beneficiary has not been informed or has to fulfil performance conditions before the grant is released are not accrued for but are disclosed as financial commitments in the notes to the financial statements.
- The provision of a multi-year grant is recognised at its present value where settlement is due over more than one year from the date of the award, there are no unfulfilled performance conditions under the control of the charity that would permit the charity to avoid making the future payments, settlement is probable and the effect of the discounting is material. The discount rate used is the average rate of investment yield in the year in which the grant is made. This discount rate is regarded by the trustees as providing the most current available estimate of the opportunity cost of money reflecting the time value of money to the charity.
- The pension charge represents payments to a defined contribution scheme which are charged to the statement of financial activities in the period to which they relate.
All expenditure is stated inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
## **Allocation of support and governance costs**
Support costs represent indirect charitable expenditure. In order to carry out the primary purposes of the charity it is necessary to provide support in the form of personnel development, financial procedures, provision of office services and equipment and a suitable working environment.
Governance costs comprise the costs involving the public accountability of the charity (including audit costs) and costs in respect to its compliance with regulation and good practice.
Support costs, including staff related costs, and governance costs are apportioned based on the staff time spent on each activity.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **38**
## **Tangible and intangible fixed assets**
All assets costing more than £1,000 and with an expected useful life exceeding one year are capitalised.
Tangible and intangible fixed assets are capitalised and depreciated at the following annual rates in order to write them off over their estimated useful lives:
- Leasehold land buildings Over the life of the lease
- Computer software and equipment 33.3% per annum based on cost
- Fixtures, fittings and equipment 10% per annum based on cost
- Office refurbishment cost 10% per annum based on cost
## **Fixed asset investments**
Listed investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price.
Realised gains (or losses) on investment assets are calculated as the difference between disposal proceeds and their opening carrying value or their purchase value if acquired subsequent to the first day of the financial year. Unrealised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between the fair value at the year end and their carrying value at that date. Realised and unrealised investment gains (or losses) are combined in the statement of financial activities and are credited (or debited) in the year in which they arise.
## **Unlisted investments**
Where a reliable basis cannot be determined for the fair value of the investment, due to the investment being unlisted, the investment is held at cost less impairment in line with the provisions of section 11 of FRS 102.
The cost of social investments is provided against in full until such time as a reliable third party market value can be attributed to the investment.
## **Debtors**
Debtors are recognised at their settlement amount, less any provision for non-recoverability. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid. They have been discounted to the present value of the future cash receipt where such discounting is material.
## **Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand represents such accounts and instruments that are available on demand or have a maturity of less than three months from the date of acquisition. Deposits for more than three months but less than one year have been disclosed as short term deposits, with cash placed on deposit for more than one year disclosed as a fixed asset investment.
## **Creditors and provisions**
Creditors and provisions are recognised when there is an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are recognised at the amount the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt. Long term liabilities have been discounted to the present value of the future cash payments.
## **Stocks**
Stocks for resale are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
## **Fund accounting**
Restricted funds comprise monies raised for, or their use restricted to, a specific purpose, or contributions subject to donor-imposed conditions. Designated funds are monies or assets set aside out of general funds and designated for specific purposes by the trustees. General funds represent those monies which are freely available for application towards achieving any charitable purpose that falls within the charity’s charitable objects.
## **Leased assets**
Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **39**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **31 March 2025**
## **1. Donations and legacies**
## **2025 donations and legacies**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**||
|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**2025 total**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Donations, gifts and appeals|3,365|-|3,365|
|Legacies|5,667|13|5,680|
|**2025 total funds**|**9,032**|**13**|**9,045**|
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2024 donations and legacies
**----- End of picture text -----**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**||**2024 total**||
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|||**£’000**|
|Donations, gifts and appeals|3,185||-||3,185|
|Legacies|4,331||-||4,331|
|**2024 total funds**|**7,516**||**-**||**7,516**|
As at 31 March 2025 the charity had been notified of legacies with an estimated value of £1,060k (£1,290k in 2024) which did not meet the criteria for recognising the income as per FRS102 and as such are not included in the numbers above
## **2. Investment income**
## **2025 investment income**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**||**2025 total**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**||**£’000**|
|Income from listed investments and cash|582||-|582|
|Interest receivable|393||-|393|
|**2025 total funds**|**975**||**-**|**975**|
## **2024 investment income**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**||**2024 total**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**||**£’000**|
|Income from listed investments and cash|423||-|423|
|Interest receivable|426||-|426|
|**2024 total funds**|**849**||**-**|**849**|
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **40**
## **3. Income from charitable activities**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**||
|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**2025 total**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Grants receivable|342|3,463|3,805|
|**2025 total funds**|**342**|**3,463**|**3,805**|
|**2024 total funds**|**1,497**|**2,910**|**4,407**|
## **4. Expenditure**
## **2025 expenditure**
|**Category**|**Detail**
**Grants and**
**project**
**expenditure**
**£’000**
**Directly**
**allocated**
**costs**
**£’000**
**Support**
**costs**
**£’000**
**2025 total**
**£’000**|
|---|---|
|**Costs of**
**generating**
**funds**|Cost of generating voluntary income
-
2,150
588
2,738|
||Fundraising trading: costs of goods sold
and other costs
-
769
62
831|
||Investment management costs
-
-
3
3|
||**Total costs of generating funds**
**-**
**2,919**
**653**
**3,572**|
|**Charitable**
**activities**|Research
7,803
2,295
1,092
11,191|
||Education and awareness
294
573
408
1,275|
||**Total costs of charitable activities**
**8,098**
**2,868**
**1,500**
**12,466**|
|**Total**|**2025 total funds**
**8,098**
**5,787**
**2,152**
**16,037**|
|**2024 expenditure**
**Category**
**Detail**
**Grants and**
**project**
**expenditure**
**£’000**
**Directly**
**allocated**
**costs**
**£’000**
**Support**
**costs**
**£’000**
**2024**
**restated**
**total**
**£’000**||
|**Costs of**
**generating**
**funds**|Cost of generating voluntary income
-
1,451
507
1,958|
||Fundraising trading: costs of goods sold
and other costs
-
814
114
928|
||Investment management costs
-
-
37
37|
||**Total costs of generating funds**
**-**
**2,265**
**658**
**2,923**|
|**Charitable**
**activities**|Research
6,989
1,843
987
9,820|
||Education and awareness
480
568
413
1,461|
||**Total costs of charitable activities**
**7,470**
**2,411**
**1,400**
**11,280**|
|**Total**|**2024 total funds**
**7,470**
**4,676**
**2,058**
**14,203**|
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **41**
## **Analysis of 2025 support costs**
|||**Other**||
|---|---|---|---|
||**Staff costs**|**overheads**|**2025 total**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|CEO/Human resources|263|106|369|
|Operations|549|1,132|1,681|
|Governance|66|37|103|
|**Total support costs**|**878**|**1,275**|**2,154**|
## **Analysis of 2024 support costs**
|||**Other**||
|---|---|---|---|
||**Staff costs**|**overheads**|**2024 total**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|CEO/Human resources|243|57|300|
|Operations|503|1,171|1,674|
|Governance|50|34|84|
|**Total support costs**|**796**|**1,262**|**2,058**|
## **5. Grants payable**
The charity makes grants to both individuals and institutions in accordance with its grant making policy set out in the trustees’ report. A reconciliation of the grants payable and grants commitments figures shown in these financial statements is as follows:
|fnancial statements is as follows:|||
|---|---|---|
|||**2024**|
||**2025**|**restated**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Grant commitments at 1 April|19,939|17,431|
|Commitments made in the year|7,712|6,858|
|Adjustments and lapsed grant commitments|(854)|(217)|
|Grants paid during the year|(4,991)|(3,938)|
|Discounting of grants payable over one year|(56)|(195)|
|**Total commitments at 31 March**|**21,751**|**19,939**|
## **Commitments at 31 March are payable as follows:**
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Time period**|**Notes**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Within one year|14|10,235|7,592|
|After more than one year||11,516|12,347|
|**Total commitments at 31 March**||**21,751**|**19,939**|
In the year, 37 (56 in 2024) research projects and fellowships were awarded, forming part of these audited financial statements.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **42**
## **6. Net expenditure for the year**
This is stated after charging:
|**6. Net expenditure for the year**
This is stated after charging:||||
|---|---|---|---|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|**Category**|**Notes**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Staff costs|7|3,950|3,479|
|Auditors’ remuneration: statutory audit services||28|24|
|Auditors’ remuneration: other services||2|2|
|Depreciation||54|51|
|Irrecoverable VAT||509|456|
## **7. Employment costs**
Employment costs during the year were as follows:
|**7. Employment costs**
Employment costs during the year were as follows:|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025 total**|**2024 total**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Wages and salaries|3,182|2,819|
|Social security costs|324|288|
|Other pension costs and salary sacrifce|444|372|
|**Total**|**3,950**|**3,479**|
The figures above include redundancy payments of £10,393 (£0 in 2024).
The average number of employees and average full-time equivalent during the year, analysed by time expended on the following activities, was as follows:
||**Average**
**Headcount**
**Average**
**Headcount**
**Average FTE**|**Average FTE**|
|---|---|---|
|**Area of activity**|**2025**
**2024**
**2025**|**2024**|
|Generation of funds|26
28
28|24|
|Charitable activities: research|49
52
41|45|
|Charitable activities: awareness and education|18
4
15|3|
|Governance|1
1
1|1|
|**Total**|**94**
**85**
**85**|**73**|
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **43**
The number of employees who earned £60,000 or more (including taxable benefits) during the year was as follows:
|was as follows:||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**||
|**Remuneration and benefts**|**number**|**number**||
|£60,000 – £69,999|4|4||
|£70,000 – £79,999|1||-|
|£80,000 – £89,999|3|3||
|£90,000 – £99,999|-||-|
|£100,000 – £109,999|-||-|
|£110,000 – £119,999|-|1||
|£120,000 – £129,999|-||-|
|£130,000 – £139,999|1||-|
The key management personnel of the charity in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the charity on a day-to-day basis comprise the trustees and the Executive Management Team of four. The total remuneration (including taxable benefits and employer’s pension contributions) of the key management personnel for the year was £543,417 (£454,283 in 2024).
## **8. Trustees’ expenses and remuneration**
None of the trustees received remuneration in respect of their services as trustees during either year. During the year ended 31 March 2025 £2,668 of out of pocket travelling expenses were reimbursed to trustees (£5,641 in 2024).
In accordance with normal commercial practice, the charity has purchased insurance to protect trustees from claims arising from negligent acts, errors or omissions occurring whilst on charity business. The insurance policy provides cover up to £1 million (£1 million in 2024) and the cost for the year ended 31 March 2025 was £635 (£574 in 2024).
## **9. Taxation**
Kidney Research UK is a registered charity and therefore is not liable to income tax or corporation tax on income derived from its charitable activities, as it falls within the various exemptions available to registered charities. The subsidiary, Kidney Research Enterprises Limited, donates its taxable profits, if any, to Kidney Research UK each year (note 12) under deed of covenant.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **44**
## **10. Tangible fixed assets**
## **Group**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Leasehold Computer Fixtures,
land and software and fittings and
buildings equipment equipment Totals
Category Detail £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost At 1 April 2024 123 104 65 292
Additions - 176 - 176
- -
Disposals (8) (8)
At 31 March 2025 123 272 65 460
Depreciation At 1 April 2024 15 57 60 132
Charge for year 12 37 5 54
- -
Depreciation on disposals (8) (8)
At 31 March 2025 27 86 67 180
Net book values At 31 March 2025 96 186 - 280
At 31 March 2024 108 47 5 160
Charity
Leasehold Computer Fixtures,
land and software and fittings and
buildings equipment equipment Totals
Category Detail £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost At 1 April 2024 119 105 64 288
Additions - 174 - 174
- -
Disposals (8) (8)
At 31 March 2025 119 271 64 454
Depreciation At 1 April 2024 13 56 59 128
Charge for year 12 37 5 54
- -
Depreciation on disposals (8) (8)
At 31 March 2025 24 87 63 174
Net book values At 31 March 2025 95 184 - 281
At 31 March 2024 106 49 5 160
**----- End of picture text -----**
Leasehold, fixtures, fittings and equipment includes assets with a net book value of £95,374 at 31 March 2025 (£112,830 in 2024) in relation to office refurbishment. These assets are depreciated over a period of ten years as set out in the accounting policies.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **45**
## **11. Investments**
|**11. Investments**||
|---|---|
|**Category**|**Detail**
**2025**
**£’000**
**2024**
**£’000**|
|**Group: listed investments**|Market value of listed investments at 1 April
12,625
11,662|
||Additions at cost
2,145
13,205|
||Disposals at book value
(1,209)
(12,901)|
||Net unrealised investment gains/(losses)
(413)
658|
||**Market value of listed investments at 31 March**
**13,148**
**12,624**|
|**Group: Cash**|Cash held by investment managers
2,882
4,392|
||Current Investment asset
2,500
1,500|
|**Group: Unlisted investment**|Value at 1 April
-
-|
||Additions at cost
850
25|
||Impairment
(850)
(25)|
||**Value at 31 March**
**-**
**-**|
|**Group total**|**18,530**
**18,516**|
|**Charity**|Shares in subsidiary undertaking
150
150|
|**Total**|**18,680**
**18,666**|
|**Costs of listed investments**|Cost of listed investments at 31 March
13,644
11,949|
|**Allocated as follows:**|Fixed asset investments
16,030
17,016|
||Current asset investments
2,500
1,500|
|**Total**|**18,530**
**18,516**|
Additions and disposals in 2023/24 were significant, representing a major restructure of the charity’s portfolio. In 2024/25, the charity amended its investment approach so that income from the main fund was automatically reinvested in the fund, rather than being paid out as a cash distribution. This necessitated the disposal of one type of unit within the fund and the acquisition of another type of unit. This shift affected £11,499k of value in the fund – this is not included in the above figures for acquisitions and disposals as, in the opinion of trustees, this is a purely administrative issue and does not represent a substantive change in the underlying product in which the charity’s funds are held.
The investments held are in British government bonds and collective UK and global investments. They are managed by Cazenove Capital Management Ltd.
Programme investments where the objectives of the charity are furthered alongside seeking a financial return are categorised as social investments as defined by the Charity Commission and are provided against in full at the date of investment. We have amended the detailed disclosure in note 11 relating to the value of social investments to better reflect FRS102 (reflecting these at cost less impairment as a change from expensing immediately to the SOFA). However, these changes do not impact the statement of financial activities on page 32 or balance sheet on page 34.
During the year ended 31 March 2025, Kidney Research UK considered the reliable fair value of the unlisted shareholdings in Kalium Health Ltd and Javelo Health Limited, and in a sense of prudence, continues to provide against the full cost of £375k in line with treating the investment as a social investment.
In addition, during the year, Kidney Research UK added further unlisted shareholdings totalling £850k in three early stage companies whose work is expected to be of direct benefit to the people and communities the charity serves. These are: Cognitant Group Ltd (£250k), Kidney Beam Ltd (£450k) and Microbiosensor Ltd (£100k). The charity has provided against the full cost of these investments in line with the above policy.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **46**
## **12. Shares in subsidiary undertaking**
The charity has one wholly owned subsidiary, Kidney Research Enterprises Limited (Company number: 02932606), which is incorporated in England and Wales. At 31 March 2025 Kidney Research UK owned the entire called up ordinary share capital of 334,500 ordinary £1 shares in Kidney Research Enterprises Limited. At 31 March 2025, the aggregate of the share capital and reserves of Kidney Research Enterprises Limited amounted to £334,500 (£334,500 in 2024).
The subsidiary’s principal activity is to undertake trading and retail activities for the benefit of Kidney Research UK. Kidney Research Enterprises Limited donates its taxable profit, if any, to Kidney Research UK. A summary of the subsidiary’s results is shown below. Audited financial statements will be filed with the Registrar of Companies.
||**2025 total**|**2024 total**|
|---|---|---|
|**Proft and loss account**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Turnover|663|791|
|Expenses|(831)|(928)|
|**Net loss**|**(168)**|**(137)**|
|Other interest receivable and similar income|31|19|
|**Loss for the fnancial year before taxation**|**(137)**|**(118)**|
|Taxation|-|-|
|Payment under Gift Aid scheme to Kidney Research UK|-|-|
|Loss for the fnancial year|(137)|(118)|
|Accumulated losses at 1 April 2024|(118)|-|
|**Accumulated losses at 31 March 2025**|**(255)**|**(118)**|
The trustees are satisfied that the activities of the subsidiary are essential to the charity; for the acquisition of new supporters and volunteers through the lottery, events and retail products, for obtaining donations, which are reflected in the financial statements of the charity and for providing administration operations.
## **Balance sheet**
|**Category**|**Detail**
**2025**
**£’000**
**2024**
**£’000**|
|---|---|
|**Fixed assets**|Tangible assets
1
-|
||Investments
-
-|
||**Total fxed assets**
**1**
**-**|
|**Current assets**|Stocks
-
-|
||Debtors
7
70|
||Cash at bank and in hand
483
2,026|
||**Total current assets**
**490**
**2,097**|
|**Creditors**|Amounts falling due within one year
(411)
(1,881)|
|**Net current assets**|79
216|
|**Net assets**|**80**
**216**|
|**Capital reserves**|Called up share capital
335
335|
||Proft and loss accounts
(255)
(118)|
|**Shareholders’ funds**|**80**
**216**|
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **47**
## **13. Debtors**
## **Group**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2025 2024
Category £’000 £’000
Taxation recoverable 25 106
Legacies receivable 5,039 4,937
Trade debtors 351 97
Funded grant debtors 5,990 4,483
Other debtors 13 11
Prepayments and accrued income 279 299
Total 11,697 9,933
Charity
2024
2025 restated
Category £’000 £’000
Taxation recoverable 25 95
Legacies receivable 5,040 4,937
Trade debtors 347 50
Funded grant debtors 5,990 4,483
Other debtors 4 4
Prepayments and accrued income 285 296
Amount owed by subsidiary undertaking 295 1,834
Total 11,986 11,699
**----- End of picture text -----**
Included within funded grant debtors is a total of £3,659,454 (£2,754,200 in 2024) which relates to grant debtors receivable after one year.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **48**
## **14. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
## **Group**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2025 2024
Category Notes £’000 £’000
Expense creditors 389 361
Social security and other taxation 132 132
Grants payable 5 10,235 7,592
Taxation payable - 16
Accruals and deferred income 672 207
Total 11,428 8,308
Charity
2025 2024
Category Notes £’000 £’000
- -
Amount owed to subsidiary undertaking
Expense creditors 272 345
Social security and other taxation 132 101
Grants payable 5 10,235 7,592
Taxation payable - 16
Accruals and deferred income 672 208
Total 11,311 8,262
**----- End of picture text -----**
Included within the above is deferred income as set out below:
|Included within the above is deferred income as set out below:||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**||
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**||
|Deferred Income brought forward at 1 April 2024|-||-|
|Additional income deferred during the year|435||-|
|Brought forward funds released in the year|-||-|
|**Deferred income carried forward at 31 March 2025**|**435**||**-**|
This income is deferred due to receiving income in prior years that has been realised this year.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **49**
## **15. Restricted funds**
The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following donations and grants to be applied for specific purposes:
|applied for specifc purposes:||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**At 1 April**||**Expenditure**|||
||**2024**||**and grants**||**At 31 March**|
||**restated**|**Income**|**committed**|**Transfers**|**2025**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Alports Hub|857|369|(1,126)|-|100|
|Boehringer / Ingleheim Project|-|8|(8)|-|-|
|Cymru Diabetes|62|-|(16)|-|46|
|Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Study|20|-|(20)|-|-|
|Fellows Day and Alumni|-|1|(85)|84|-|
|Health Economic Modelling update|-|40|(20)|-|20|
|Health Economics and prevention reports|14|-|(14)|-|-|
|Health Economics report|19|-|-|(19)|-|
|Health Inequalities report|10|-|-|(10)|-|
|Health Inequalities report
(industry contributions)|-|20|(12)|10|18|
|Industry Day|15|-|-|(15)|-|
|Industry Partnerships Programmes|80|-|-|(80)|-|
|John Feehally/ Stoneygate Research
and Innovation Grants|166|855|(877)|-|144|
|Kids Kidney Research|-|13|(12)|-|1|
|La Medica|11|-|-|-|11|
|Life Arc|-|373|(21)|-|352|
|Nephrotoxicity|250|-|-|(250)|-|
|NIHR D4D Medtech Competition|-|10|(10)|-|-|
|Nimble-Alport fundraising|-|10|-|-|10|
|Nurse Led Research Grant Call|-|105|(79)|20|46|
|NURTuRE – Undisclosed Pharmaceutical
funding via National Renal|98|-|(48)|-|50|
|NURTuRE AKI|(40)|790|(552)|-|198|
|Pharmacy Led Research Grant Call|-|60|(262)|250|48|
|PKD Research Consortium Study|-|10|(10)|-|-|
|Rare Kidney Conditions Report|-|132|-|-|132|
|Scotland Policy Campaign|-|26|(28)|-|(3)|
|Scottish Government Peer Educator Project|2|36|(35)|-|3|
|Staff/Pavia|(387)|100|(89)|-|(376)|
|Stoneygate Paediatrics|23|-|(23)|-|-|
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **50**
||**At 1 April**||**Expenditure**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**2024**||**and grants**||**At 31 March**|
||**restated**|**Income**|**committed**|**Transfers**|**2025**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|The Peterborough Project|-|12|-|-|12|
|The Professor Mike Nicholson Awards|-|92|-|(75)|17|
|The Robert Dangoor Living Kidney Donor
Programme|100|305|(405)|-|-|
|The Sabita Dindayal Award|-|84|(76)|-|8|
|The Thompson Family Trust|33|-|(33)|-|-|
|Funds under £10k|41|24|(49)|(5)|12|
|**Total restricted funds**|**1,374**|**3,475**|**(3,910)**|**(90)**|**849**|
The above figures represent only the restricted element of grant funding utilised in the year. Additional amounts may have been reflected as unrestricted income or as deferred income or may be utilised in previous/future years. The two funds that show a deficit at the year end are as a result from the timing of anticipated and planned income.
## **16. Designated funds**
|**16. Designated funds**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**Released/**|
||**At 1 April**|**New**||**utilised in**
**At 31 March**|
||**2024**|**designations**||**Year**
**2025**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**||**£’000**
**£’000**|
|Partnership Development Fund|3,005||-|(159)
2,846|
|Property Fund|100||-|-
100|
|Research and Awareness Fund|4,142||-|(31)
4,111|
|Staff Resourcing, Remuneration,
Recruitment and Retention Fund|300||-|(66)
234|
|Supporter Acquisition|139||-|(139)
-|
|Investment Opportunities|2,390||-|(800)
1,590|
|**Total designated funds**|**10,076**|||**(1,195)**
**8,881**|
The Partnership Development Fund represents monies set aside by the trustees for co-developing and co-funding partnerships.
The Property Fund represents monies set aside by the trustees to meet end of lease expenses and expenditure on properties.
The Research and Awareness Fund represents monies which have been set aside from unrestricted funds by the trustees for research project commitments.
The Staff Resourcing, Remuneration, Retention and Recruitment Fund represents monies set aside for adjustments to take into account the current climate, increase in recruitment costs and any unknown factors.
The Supporter Acquisition Fund represents monies set aside by the trustees for digital transformation and acquisition phase 2: building the fund to deliver the next round of activity.
The Investment Opportunities Fund represents monies set aside by the trustees for social investment opportunities.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **51**
## **17. Analysis of net assets between funds**
## **Group**
Fund balances at 31 March 2025 are represented by:
|**Group**
Fund balances at 31 March 2025 are represented by:||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**||
||**funds**|**funds**|**2025 total**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Tangible fxed assets|280|-|280|
|Fixed asset investments|16,030|-|16,030|
|Current assets|18,225|849|19,074|
|Creditors: amounts falling due within one year|(11,428)|-|(11,428)|
|Creditors: amounts falling due after one year|(11,516)|-|(11,516)|
|**Total net assets**|**11,591**|**849**|**12,440**|
## **Charity**
Fund balances at 31 March 2025 are represented by:
|**Charity**
Fund balances at 31 March 2025 are represented by:||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**||
||**funds**|**funds**|**2025 total**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Tangible fxed assets|280|-|280|
|Fixed asset investments|16,180|-|16,180|
|Current assets|18,030|849|18,879|
|Creditors: amounts falling due within one year|(11,311)|-|(11,311)|
|Creditors: amounts falling due after one year|(11,516)|-|(11,516)|
|**Total net assets**|**11,663**|**849**|**12,512**|
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **52**
## **18. Operating leases**
At 31 March 2025 the charity had total future minimum commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:
## **Group – land and buildings**
Operating lease payments which fall due:
|**Group – land and buildings**
Operating lease payments which fall due:|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Within one year|85|115|
|Between two and fve years|328|331|
|Thereafter|211|293|
|**Total**|**624**|**739**|
## **Charity – land and buildings**
Operating lease payments which fall due:
|**Charity – land and buildings**
Operating lease payments which fall due:|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Within one year|85|85|
|Between two and fve years|328|331|
|Thereafter|211|293|
|**Total**|**624**|**709**|
## **19. Liability of members**
The charity is constituted as a company limited by guarantee. In the event of the charity being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.
## **20. Pensions**
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. During the year contributions totalling
£443,357 (£371,612 in 2024) were made, with £41,978 (£33,765 in 2024) payable at the year end.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **53**
## **21. Related party transactions**
During the year unrestricted donations of £23,195 (£13,406 in 2024) were received from trustees. Grants awarded to a trustee or an institute with which they are related as follows:
|to a trustee or an institute with|which they are related as follows:||
|---|---|---|
|**Trustee**|**Institute**|**Amount**|
|Professor John Cunningham|University College London|£712,185|
|Professor Liz Lightstone|Imperial College London|£536,000|
|Professor Claire Sharpe|Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust|£40,000|
|Professor Caroline Savage|University of Birmingham|£496,000|
|Professor Moin Saleem|Bristol Royal Hospital for Children|£229,000|
|**Total**||**£2,013,185**|
These grants were awarded strictly on the basis that the named trustee was not part of the decision-making process, nor directly involved in the research funded.
Transactions between Kidney Research UK and its wholly owned trading subsidiary, Kidney Research Enterprises Limited are determined by an agreed methodology of inter-company recharges based on the resources available across both entities. At the end of each financial year, Kidney Research Enterprises Limited gift aids its profits up to Kidney Research UK this amounted to £nil for the year (£nil in 2024).
There were no other related party transactions in the year which require disclosure (none in 2024).
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **54**
## **22. Prior year statement of financial activities 31 March 2024**
|**Category**|**Detail**
**Notes**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£’000**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£’000**
**2024**
**restated**
**£’000**
**2023**
**restated**
**£’000**|
|---|---|
|**Income**|Donations and legacies
1
7,516
-
7,516
7,266|
||Other trading activities
12
791
-
791
828|
||Investment income
2
849
-
849
425|
||Income from charitable activities
3
1,497
2,910
4,407
5,972|
||**Total income**
**10,653**
**2,910**
**13,563**
**14,491**|
|**Expenditure**|Costs of generating funds: costs
of raising donations and legacies
1,634
324
1,958
2,239|
||Costs of generating funds:
Fundraising trading: cost of goods
sold and other costs
928
-
928
349|
||Costs of generating funds:
Investment management costs
37
-
37
31|
||**Total costs of generating funds**
**2,600**
**324**
**2,923**
**2,619**|
||Charitable activities: research
6,567
3,253
9,820
9,868|
||Charitable activities:
awareness and education
1,132
329
1,461
1,748|
||**Total cost of charitable activities**
**7,699**
**3,582**
**11,281**
**11,616**|
||**Total expenditure**
4
**10,298**
**3,906**
**14,264**
**14,235**|
|**Net income**|Net income before investments
355
(996)
(641)
256|
||Net gains on investments
11
658
-
658
(363)|
||**Net income for the year**
**1,013**
**(996)**
**(17)**
**(107)**|
|**Movement**
**of funds**|Gross transfers between funds
(223)
223
-
-|
||**Net movement in funds**
**790**
**(773)**
**(17)**
**(107)**|
|**Fund**
**balances**|Fund balances brought forward
at 1 April 2023
12,241
2,146
14,387
14,495|
||**Fund balances brought forward**
**at 31 March 2024**
**13,031**
**1,373**
**14,404**
**14,387**|
All of the group’s activities were derived from continuing operations during the above two financial periods. All recognised gains and losses are included in the above consolidated statement of financial activities. Full prior year comparatives are included in note 22.
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **55**
## **23. Prior year statement of restricted funds 31 March 2024**
The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following donations and grants to be applied for specific purposes:
|applied for specifc purposes:|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**At 1 April**||**Expenditure**|||**At 31 March**|
||**2023**||**and grants**|||**2024**|
||**restated**|**Income**|**committed**|**Transfers**||**restated**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**||**£’000**|
|Action for Alports Campaign|10|-|(3)||-|7|
|Alports Hub|1,149|370|(663)||-|856|
|Andy Cole Fund|118|-|-|(118)||-|
|Childrens Kidney books|-|25|(26)|1||-|
|Cymru Diabetes|73|-|(11)||-|62|
|Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Study|45|-|(25)||-|20|
|David Kerr Fellowship|5|1|-|(5)||1|
|England CKD|-|45|(45)||-|-|
|Fellows Day and Alumni|24|23|(47)||-|-|
|Health Economics and prevention reports|-|14|-||-|14|
|Health Economics report|-|25|(6)||-|19|
|Health Inequalities report|-|10|-||-|10|
|Industry Day|-|15|-||-|15|
|Industry Partnerships Programmes|40|40|-||-|80|
|John Feehally/ Stoneygate Research
and Innovation Grants|74|1,254|(1,518)|357||167|
|Kids Kidney Research|68|-|(68)||-|-|
|KRUK Dialysis Competition|-|15|(15)||-|-|
|La Medica|11|-|-||-|11|
|Making Every Kidney Count|5|-|(5)||-|-|
|Nephrotoxicity|-|250|-||-|250|
|NURTuRE – Undisclosed Pharmaceutical
funding via National Renal|332|-|(234)||-|98|
|NURTuRE AKI|72|-|(101)|(12)||(41)|
|Organ Donation Awareness Project|-|2|(2)||-|-|
|Scottish Policy Project|7|-|(7)||-|-|
|Scottish Government Peer Educator Project|-|35|(33)||-|2|
|Staff/Pavia|42|196|(624)||-|(386)|
|Stoneygate Paediatrics|-|176|(153)||-|23|
|The Robert Dangoor Living Kidney Donor
Programme|-|414|(314)||-|100|
|The Thompson Family Trust|27|-|6||-|33|
|Various below £10,000|44|-|(11)||-|33|
|**Total restricted funds**|**2,146**|**2,910**|**(3,905)**|**223**||**1,374**|
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **56**
The above figures represent only the restricted element of grant funding utilised in the year. Additional amounts may have been reflected as unrestricted income or as deferred income or may be utilised in previous/future years.
## **24. Prior year statement of designated funds**
||||**Released/**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**At 1 April**|**New**|**utilised in**|
**At 31 March**|
||**2023**|**designations**|**Year**|
**2024**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Partnership Development Fund|1,541|2,074|610|3,005|
|Property Fund|92|39|31|100|
|Research and Awareness Fund|7,046|3,059|5,963|4,142|
|Staff Resourcing, Remuneration,
Recruitment and Retention Fund|300|243|243|300|
|Supporter Acquisition|430|-|291|139|
|Investment Opportunities|-|2,390||-
2,390|
|**Total designated funds**|**9,409**|**7,805**|**7,138**
**10,076**||
The Partnership Development Fund represents monies set aside by the trustees for co-developing and co-funding partnerships.
The Property Fund represents monies set aside by the trustees to meet end of lease expenses and expenditure on properties.
The Research and Awareness Fund represents monies which have been set aside from unrestricted funds by the trustees for research project commitments.
The Staff Resourcing, Remuneration, Retention and Recruitment Fund represents monies set aside for adjustments to take into account the current climate, increase in recruitment costs and any unknown factors.
The Supporter Acquisition Fund represents monies set aside by the trustees for digital transformation and acquisition phase 2: building the fund to deliver the next round of activity.
The Investment Opportunities Fund represents monies set aside by the trustees for Investment opportunities.
## **25. Prior year statement of analysis of net assets between funds**
## **Group**
Fund balances at 31 March 2024 are represented by:
|**Group**
Fund balances at 31 March 2024 are represented by:|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**||**Restricted**|**2024**
**restated**|
||**funds**||**funds**|**total**|
|**Category**|**£’000**||**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Tangible fxed assets|160||-|160|
|Fixed asset investments|17,016||-|17,016|
|Programme related investments||-|-|-|
|Current assets|16,510||1,374|17,884|
|Creditors: amounts falling due within one year|(8,308)||-|(8,308)|
|Creditors: amounts falling due after one year|(12,347)||-|(12,347)|
|**Total net assets**|**13,031**||**1,374**|**14,404**|
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **57**
## **26. Prior year adjustment**
A prior year adjustment has been recognised to reflect the effect of discounting on creditors falling due after one year, representing long term grant commitments.
The charity has identified the need to correct the treatment of the value of long-term grant creditors by applying an appropriate level of discounting to the value of grants falling due after one year. This has been calculated with reference to the charity’s expected weighted average long-term rate of return from its portfolio of cash and investments as at 31 March 2025.
The comparative, representing the fund balances at 1 April 2023 has been adjusted to reflect this.
The impact of this discounting on the statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 March 2024, and balance sheet as of that date, is as follows:
## **Creditors**
|**Creditors**||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**2024 as**|||
||**previously**|**Prior year**|**2024 as**|
||**stated**|**adjustment**|**restated**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|**Amounts falling after one year**|**(13,174)**|**827**|**(12,347)**|
## **The funds of the charity**
|**The funds of the charity**||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**2024 as**|||
||**previously**|**Prior year**|**2024 as**|
||**stated**|**adjustment**|**restated**|
|**Category**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Restricted funds|976|397|1,373|
|Designated funds|10,076|-|10,076|
|General funds|2,525|430|2,955|
|**Total charity funds**|**13,577**|**827**|**14,404**|
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **58**
## **Key people**
## **Ambassadors**
Andrew Cole Bruno Loubet Ed Drake Frances Edmonds Dame Jaqueline Wilson David Brabham Julia Watson Kate Ford Lauren Laverne Lawrence Keough Lucy Davis Matthew Amroliwala Nina Nannar Nina Wadia OBE Dame Patricia Routledge Richard Pitman Stefan Booth
## **Chief executive**
Sandra Currie
## **Auditor**
## **Moore Kingston Smith**
9 Appold Street, London, EC2A 2AP
## **Bankers**
## **Barclays Bank**
PO Box 885, Mortlock House, Vision Park, Histon, Cambridge CB24 9DE
## **Investment advisers**
**Cazenove Capital Management Ltd**
1 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU
## **Solicitors**
## **Mills & Reeve**
Botanic House, 100 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 1PH
## **Greenwoods**
Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough PE1 1JE
## **Roythornes Solicitors**
Stuart House, St. John’s Street, Peterborough PE1 5DD
Kidney Research UK Annual Report 2024/25 **59**
## **Thank you**
We are grateful to all those who have given us their support over the past year, including the following groups and individuals:
- Alastair Hynd
- Andrew Cole
- Bell Charitable Trust
- Currys
- David Dangoor CBE
- Financial Ombudsman
- Gary Maguire
- Give a Kidney
- Graham Kimber
- Industry partners
- Joyce Watt
- Julia Moross and family
- Ken Rundle
- Kier Foundation
- Kidney Wales
- Lloyds Bank
- Nina Nannar
- Northern Counties Kidney Research Fund
- Paul and Lynsey Dooley
- P F Charitable Trust
- Professor Caroline Savage
- Sean Dyche
- The PKD Charity
- Sally and Keith Woodward
- The Davies Foundation
- The Exilarch’s Foundation
- The Premier League
- The Solomon Family
- The Steel Charitable Trust
- The Stoneygate Trust
- The Sutherland Family
- The Thompson Family Trust
- UK Kidney Association
- Vidur Dindayal
Kidney Research UK Stuart House City Road Peterborough PE1 1QF 0300 3031100 www.kidneyresearchuk.org
Company registration number 00905963 (England and Wales) SC 039245 (Scotland)
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