Amnesty International Charity
(a company limited by guarantee)
Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024
Company No: 2007475
Charity No: 294230
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
Contents
| Section Page |
|---|
| Legal and Administrative details .................................................................................................. 3 |
| Trustees’ Report ........................................................................................................................ 4 |
| Independent Auditor's Report .................................................................................................... 11 |
| Statement of Financial Activities ............................................................................................... 15 |
| Balance Sheet ......................................................................................................................... 16 |
| Cash Flow Statement ............................................................................................................... 17 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements ............................................................................................. 18 |
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
Legal and Administrative details
Directors (and Trustees): Patricia Whaley (chair) Varun Anand Amanda Ogilvie Jessica Holifield Company Secretary: Iina Sofia Ransom (appointed 7 October 2024) Rebecca Jefferies (resigned 5 August 2024) Address and Registered Office: 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW Company Registration Number: 2007475 Charity Registration Number: 294230 Date of incorporation: 7 April 1986 Constitution: Company limited by guarantee, with articles of association.
Honorary Solicitors: Baker McKenzie LLP 208 Bishopsgate London EC2M 4AG Bankers: HSBC Bank plc 74 Goswell Road London EC1V 7DA Auditor: BDO LLP 55 Baker Street London W1U 7EU
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 December 2024
The Trustees, who are also the Directors of Amnesty International Charity (“ the Charity ”), present their annual report on the affairs of the Charity, together with the financial statements and auditor’s report for the year ended 31 December 2024.
1. Structure, Governance and Management
1.1 Relationship with Amnesty International
Amnesty International (or “Amnesty”) is an unincorporated, global movement, which has as its objective “securing the observance of the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights instruments throughout the world”.
The Charity was incorporated on 7 April 1986 to undertake charitable human rights activities on behalf of the global movement. The governing documents of the Charity are its Articles of Association.
In June 2012, Amnesty International Limited (“ AIL ”), the principal operating entity for Amnesty’s International Secretariat (“ IS ”), was appointed as the sole member of the Charity. The Charity is a subsidiary of AIL and has been consolidated into the Group accounts of AIL.
As the Charity has no employees, AIL provides services to the Charity in return for a fee, including financial, legal, company secretarial, grants, and legacy management and risk management services, under the terms of an arm's length services agreement which is reviewed annually.
1.2 Governance and Management
The Charity is a company limited by guarantee and does not have share capital.
The Trustees are appointed by AIL in consultation with the existing Trustees. To ensure independence, the Charity’s Articles of Association prohibit a director, officer, or executive of AIL from serving as a Trustee. New Trustees receive an induction shortly after their appointment, covering a general overview of the organization and administrative details; fiduciary, legal and statutory responsibilities; finances; risk and the Charity’s relationship with AIL and the Amnesty movement.
The Trustees have responsibility for the oversight of the Charity. The Charity carries out its charitable activities primarily by way of grant funding. Any conflicts of interest arising out of the Charity’s governance structure are managed by the Trustees in accordance with the Charity’s conflict management processes and the Charity’s articles of association.
The Trustees exercise supervision and control over grant funding and have procedures in place to ensure that they take decisions independently, acting in the best interests of the Charity and that the Charity’s funds are applied exclusively for its charitable purposes. These procedures include maintaining a regularly updated register of interests, periodic reviews of the Articles of Association and key policies—such as the Conflicts of Interest Policy—to ensure the Charity remains fit for purpose, and conducting governance reviews or benchmarking exercises against the Charity Governance Code at appropriate intervals.
The Finance and Audit Committee is an advisory subcommittee of AIL and the Charity. This Committee provides the Charity with oversight of, and advice on, finance, risk and audit matters.
A Grant Memorandum of Understanding (“ MoU ”) between the Charity and AIL sets out how the Charity receives assurance from AIL that funds are used appropriately and in line with the Charity’s purposes. The MoU also clarifies
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
AIL’s responsibility to ensure all safeguarding measures are in place for all the Charity’s funded projects, with AIL’s Head of Safeguarding providing an annual report of any cases of concern.
The Charity regularly reviews its performance as measured against its aspiration to meet the Charity Governance Code. As part of their grant-making process, the Trustees regularly review the organisation’s charitable purposes, and the external environment in which it works, to make sure that the Charity, and its purposes, stay relevant and valid.
2. Objectives and Activities
The Charity’s objects are based on the Charity Commission’s model object for the advancement of Human Rights, as follows:
Having regard to the Statute of Amnesty International, the objects for which the Charity is established are to promote human rights (as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent United Nations conventions and declarations) throughout the world by all or any of the following means:
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Monitoring abuses of human rights
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Obtaining redress for the victims of human rights abuse
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Relieving need among the victims of human rights abuse
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Research into human rights issues
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Providing technical advice to government and others on human rights matters
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Contributing to the sound administration of human rights law
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Commenting on proposed human rights legislation
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Raising awareness of human rights issues
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Promoting public support for human rights
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Promoting respect for human rights among individuals and corporations
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International advocacy of human rights
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Eliminating infringements of human rights, including without limitation procuring the abolition of torture, extrajudicial execution and disappearance.
The Charity primarily carries out its charitable activities by way of grant funding. In 2024, the Charity made grant awards to AIL following consideration of several factors including the two organisations’ shared objectives, AIL’s proven track record of delivering human rights projects, the likely expectation of donors and the origins of the Charity as part of the wider Amnesty International movement. The specific grant awards were made in accordance with the terms of the MoU.
3. Public Benefit
In setting the Charity’s objectives and planning the Charity’s activities, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit requirement under the Charities Act 2011 (as amended by the Charities Act 2022, together the “Charities Act”). The Trustees always ensure that the activities undertaken by the Charity further its charitable objects and aims.
The Charities Act makes provision for the advancement of human rights as a charitable purpose. The Charity’s purposes, and the activities that flow from them are aligned to those summarised in the Charity Commission’s guidance publication “RR12 - The Promotion of Human Rights”.
4. The most significant risks to the Charity and their management
The nature of the operations of the Charity and the environments in which the Charity – and the projects it funds - operates means that the successful delivery and execution of the Charity’s activities are subject to a number of risks.
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
The Charity’s risk register is reviewed and updated by designated risk owners, who are the senior leadership team at the IS. As the Charity has no employees, risk oversight is integrated into IS management structures. The Trustees review and discuss risks throughout the year, with risk dashboards presented at their meetings in February 2024 and June 2024. For the third and fourth quarters, the standard dashboard was replaced with a summary report, The Trustees considered risks as part of signing off the 2023 accounts in September 2024.
From 1 February 2025, the Global Strategy and Governance programme assumed responsibility for risk reporting. In the Charity’s standard risk register review process top risks and mitigations are summarised and presented to the Trustees. The Trustees ensure that for each risk, risk owners:
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Develop further mitigations for risks where the exposure is deemed too high;
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Report on changes in the severity of risk exposure to the charity due to changes in external and/or internal factors;
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Clearly understand and uphold their responsibilities for implementing remedial actions within specified timelines; and,
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Share progress and lessons learnt on the management of risks.
Given the grants granted by the Charity to AIL and the services provided by AIL to the Charity, the Trustees are also provided with a copy of AIL’s Risk dashboard to give assurance that risks which may impact the Charity are being comprehensively managed.
The greatest threats to the Charity were assessed as the following:
Financial Impropriety
There is a risk that funds granted may be spent fraudulently, leading to a lower amount of funds being spent on the Charity's objectives. Further damage may then be caused by lost income from reputational damage with the Charity Commission and/or donors/prospective donors resulting from public awareness of misappropriated finances.
To mitigate this risk there is an agreement in place with each grant beneficiary (which in 2024 was solely AIL) in respect of use of funds. Grant expenditure is regularly monitored by the Trustees who are provided with grant reporting at each meeting throughout the year which provides assurance around the eligibility and propriety of expenditure. This risk is further managed by the annual external audit of both the Charity and AIL, which provides assurance on the completeness and accuracy of financial information. In addition, the Finance and Audit Committee monitor and review AIL's policies and procedures that are designed to protect against fraud and ensure these are applied to the Charity's activities.
Reputational Damage
Reputational damage to the Charity may arise from adverse publicity for several reasons, including errors or bias in research reports, poor decision-making or misconduct by the Trustees, involvement of regulators or actions taken by other parts of the Amnesty International movement, including the staff and officers of the IS.
To mitigate this, the Trustees monitor and review AIL’s project reporting. Internal due diligence and quality assurance is undertaken by the AIL’s global research and policy teams. The AIL Legal team also review the grant project proposals and provide assurance that these are within the Charity’s charitable aims and objectives and are compliant with the MoU. The Charity benefits from AIL’s internal project and risk management processes and reports. The Charity annually reviews its governance practices against the Charity Governance Code. It maintains regular communication channels with AIL and the broader Amnesty International movement.
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
Financial Sustainability
A decrease in donations and/or legacies would impact the Charity’s ability to operate because they form a large proportion of the Charity’s income. Additionally, the Trustees consider the possibility of commitments exceeding income to be a principal risk due to the unpredictable nature of the Charity’s income.
To mitigate this, the Trustees maintain an appropriate level of free reserves to cover fixed costs and agree grants based on prudent financial forecasts and tranche payments with no binding commitment to make further tranche payments. Consequently, if the Charity were in a position where income was lower than expected, grant expenditure could be reduced to ensure liquidity and financial sustainability.
Reliance on AIL to deliver charitable activities
As the Charity has no employees, it relies on AIL to carry out its operations and uphold its reputation. As a result, the Charity is exposed to risks related to AIL’s resources, systems, and project management capabilities, which are critical to the effective delivery of Charity-funded work. The Charity continues to closely monitor AIL’s mitigations by attending AIL Finance and Audit Committee meetings, where one of its Board members participates in an ex-officio, non-voting capacity.
5. Achievements and Performance
In the year to 31 December 2024, the Charity made tranche grant payments to AIL of £2,878k (2023: £5,649k), which includes a balance £365k for project work carried out in 2023. In addition, £946k unspent prior year grant payments were returned to the Charity by AIL (2023: £34k). The net figure of £1,932k (£2,878k less the £946k unspent from prior year) was recognised as unrestricted grant funding in the financial statements. In 2025, the Charity approved payment of a final tranche of the grant for project work carried out in 2024 of £508k making a total grant payment for activities in 2024 of £2,074k (2023: £5,614k).
The Charity incurred direct costs of £140k (2023: £140k).
In 2024, the Charity provided full or partial grant funding for eight AIL projects across different regions which aimed to empower people and communities with knowledge about human rights, and work with them to build societies that respect rights at all levels (2023: sixteen projects). These projects, all of which were also funded in 2023, strive to achieve the following outcomes:
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Those defending human rights are safe and supported;
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People know their rights and are empowered to claim them; and
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People can claim their rights to speak out, organize and challenge injustice.
AIL provides regular financial reports to the Trustees on the projects funded by the Charity’s grants. Some examples of projects and achievements in 2024 are:
- The Controlling the Trade in and Use of Policing Equipment and Other Weapons project , through research, advocacy and campaigning, addresses key regulatory failures that undermine the right to peaceful protest. These include the failure to regulate the trade in lethal and less lethal equipment, the failure to address the looming threat of autonomous weapons systems, and the failure to implement or otherwise comply with international human rights law and standards. Amnesty worked with the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF) to collaborate with National Preventative Mechanisms across Africa to develop a programme of work focused on combating torture, leading to a policy position being developed in support of Torture-Free Trade. This groundbreaking development will lead to engagement with the National Human Rights Commissions in several countries including South Africa. If these countries are not motivated by national mechanisms and commissions around the issue of Torture-Free Trade, they could play a blocking role at the UN. After meetings held with Amnesty, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association publicly expressed support for the negotiation of a legally binding instrument to control the trade in tools of torture. She also wrote allegation letters to specific states in relation to the torture-free trade.
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
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The Economic and Social Rights and Fiscal Justice in the Americas project implements actions to guarantee economic and social rights and promote fiscal justice in the Americas region. Amnesty launched the report “La Deuda de la Salud” (Paraguay: The Health Debt) in May 2024. The report analyses the guarantee of the right to health in Paraguay based on the state of the public health system. The team launched a campaign and advocacy based on the report. The team had a meeting with the Minister of Health, in which the Paraguay Government committed to build almost 90% of the primary care units needed to achieve universal coverage, by the end of 2029. The Ministry has remained responsive and committed to more action. Amnesty worked with Oxfam and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GIESCR) to reach more diverse audiences, on this issue, across Latin America and the Caribbean. The team designed an educational guide on The Right to Health and hosted three implementation workshops. One of the workshops was for a grassroots organisation La Poderosa in Colombia, where Amnesty helped to strengthen their work plan on health by using a human rights lens.
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The Human Rights in International Justice project seeks to ensure justice, truth, and reparation for crimes under international law and other serious human rights violations, with an emphasis on crimes that arise from or involve racial discrimination. In December 2024, the UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) sixth Committee adopted a breakthrough resolution mandating formal negotiations on a Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity, a long-term Amnesty International advocacy goal. Once concluded and adopted, this treaty would strengthen the framework of international justice by providing new tools and better enabling states to cooperate with each other in combating crimes against humanity. Amnesty International strengthened its ongoing relationship with the International Criminal Court (ICC) Special Adviser for Slavery Crimes and provided input into the 2024 Policy on Slavery Crimes. Amnesty International staff presented at a public event in Geneva, organised by the ICC Special Adviser for Slavery Crimes, discussing the need for justice and accountability for both historic and contemporary slavery crimes. Amnesty released firm statements of support to the ICC in the face of threats to the ICC and its effective functioning.
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The Advancing Just Economies and Environmental Justice in Southern Africa project holds businesses and institutions accountable for environmental and economic abuses in Southern Africa. Amnesty worked in partnership with FIZATA, a grassroots organisation, to conduct comprehensive research on the displacement of the Antandroy people from southern Madagascar to the northern region of Boeny. This collaboration led to the establishment of a strong relationship with FIZATA. The team engaged with Attiya Waris (UN Independent Expert on Foreign Debt) who encouraged Amnesty to continuously engage her office on matters related to foreign debt. Amnesty also discussed a future collaboration with ASDJN (African Sovereign Debt Justice Network) on debt justice. Amnesty provided technical legal support and protection for community members who are involved in a legal case focusing on the QMM-Rio Tinto Mining company’s pollution of water sources in Madagascan villages.
6. Plans for Future Periods
In 2025, the Charity will consider further grant proposals. Such grants as the Trustees approve will be in line with its grant procedures which take account of best practice and regulatory guidance. In particular, the Charity will consider grants to AIL for continuing projects supported in 2024 as the nature of the projects and desired outcomes often require a sustained activity over a number of years as well as new projects assessed to be in line with the Charity’s objectives.
7. Financial Review
The results for the Charity show net expenditure of £673k (2023: net expenditure of £4,918k). The principal sources of funding for the Charity in 2024 were donations and legacies.
As of 31 December 2024, the Charity had net assets of £350k (2023: £1,023k) all of which were unrestricted funds (2023: £1,023k).
Net cash outflow for 2024 was £334k (2023 net outflow: £3,397k). The Charity had cash at bank and in hand of £397k as of 31 December 2024 (2023: £2,731k, including £2,000k short-term investments).
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
Reserves policy
The Charity is a grant-making organisation. The grants are paid in tranches with no commitment to make further tranches and tranche payments are only approved if adequate funds are available, so it has no requirement for significant reserves. For 2024, the target level of reserves was £40k to cover annual expenditure outside of grantgiving activities and a contingency amount for unforeseen costs required to be met directly by the Charity (2023: £40k).
Free reserves were £350k on 31 December 2024 (2023: £1,023k). This is £310k (2023: £983k) higher than target, which is due to the timing of grant approvals in 2024. The Trustees anticipate that the excess of free reserves will be applied to charitable activities through grants in 2025 and will be kept under review to ensure this target level of reserves is not exceeded.
Investment policy
In the situation where it has significant funds, the Charity aims to invest such funds in a prudent and ethical manner to enable funding of future activities. During the year, any cash not immediately required for operational work was placed in money market deposit accounts to maximise interest. Interest earned was in line with expectations.
Going concern
The Trustees have assessed the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Trustees have considered several factors when forming their conclusion as to whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate when preparing these financial statements including a review of updated forecasts to the end of 2026 and a consideration of key risks that could negatively affect the Charity together with the level of free reserves held. The Charity is forecast to receive donations and legacies from members of the public and Gift Aid grants from AIL in 2025 and 2026. In consideration of the committed expenditure of the Charity and target free reserves of £40k, the Trustees believe that the Charity has adequate financial resources and is well-placed to manage business risks. The Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
The Trustees believe that there are no material uncertainties that call into doubt the Charity’s ability to continue. The accounts have therefore been prepared on the basis that the Charity is a going concern.
Fundraising
The Charity does not undertake any public fundraising activities and so has not subscribed to any UK fundraising standards or scheme for fundraising regulation. Therefore, AIC has not received any complaints in 2024 about fundraising activity (2023: no complaints).
8. Auditor
At the date of approval of this report, as far as each of the Trustees is aware, there is no relevant audit information (information needed by the Charity’s auditor in connection with preparing the audit report) of which the Charity’s auditor is unaware. Each Trustee has taken all the steps that they should have taken as a Trustee to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Charity’s auditor is aware of that information.
BDO has indicated its willingness to be reappointed as statutory auditor for the next financial year.
The report to the Trustees has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies’ regime within part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period in accordance with FRS 102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland and applicable law.
Under charity law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its net income/expenditure for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue to operate.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102). They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information related to the Charity included on Amnesty International’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 was approved by the board of Trustees on 10 April 2025, and is signed as authorised on its behalf by:
Patricia Whaley Trustee
17th ………… April 2025 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Member of Amnesty International Charity
Opinion on the financial statements
In our opinion, the financial statements:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the Charitable Company’s affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of incoming resources and application of resources for the year then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
We have audited the financial statements of Amnesty International Charity (“the Charitable Company”) for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the cash flow statement 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 Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
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 believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Independence
We remain independent of the Charitable Company in accordance with the ethical requirements 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.
Conclusions related 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 Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Report and financial statements, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. 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. Our responsibility is to
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
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 themselves. 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.
Other Companies Act 2006 reporting
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
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the information given in the Trustees’ Report, which includes the Directors’ Report prepared for the purposes of Company Law, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
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the Directors’ Report, which are included in the Trustees’ Report, has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Charitable Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic report or the Trustees’ report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion;
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adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
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the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
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the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the directors’ report.
Responsibilities of Trustees
As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities, 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 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 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 report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
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 the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Extent to which the audit was capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance 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:
Non-compliance with laws and regulations
Based on:
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Our understanding of the Charitable Company and the sector in which it operates;
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Discussion with management and those charged with governance; and
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Obtaining and understanding of the Charitable Company’s policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations:
we considered the significant laws and regulations to be the applicable accounting framework, Companies Act 2006, Charitie Act 2011 and UK tax legislation.
Our procedures in respect of the above included:
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Review of minutes of meeting of those charged with governance for any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations;
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Review of correspondence with regulatory and tax authorities for any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations; and
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Review of financial statement disclosures and agreeing to supporting documentation.
Fraud
We assessed the susceptibility of the financial statements to material misstatement, including fraud. Our risk assessment procedures included:
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Enquiry with management and those charged with governance regarding any known or suspected instances of fraud;
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Obtaining an understanding of the Charitable Company’s policies and procedures relating to:
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Detecting and responding to the risks of fraud; and
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Internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud.
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Review of minutes of meeting of those charged with governance for any known or suspected instances of fraud;
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Discussion amongst the engagement team as to how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements; and
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Performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud.
Based on our risk assessment, we considered the areas most susceptible to fraud to be legacy accrued income and management override of controls.
Our procedures in respect of the above included:
- Testing a sample of journal entries throughout the year, which met a defined risk criteria, by agreeing to supporting documentation; and
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
- Assessing significant estimates made by management for bias, including legacy accrued income, by sample testing of recognition criteria and challenge of the accounting policy adoption.
We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.
Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, recognising that 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, misrepresentations or through collusion. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located at the Financial Reporting Council’s (“FRC’s”) website at:
https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
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. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Charitable Company’s members those matters 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 anyone other than the Charitable Company and the Charitable Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Sarah Anderson (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of BDO LLP, statutory auditor London, UK
Date: 22 April 2025
BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127).
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
Statement of Financial Activities
(Incorporating the Income and Expenditure Account)
For the year ended 31 December 2024
| Notes Income from Donations and legacies 4 Other income from AIL Investments Total income Expenditure on Charitable activities 5 Total expenditure Net expenditure Total funds brought forward Total funds balances carried forward |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds 2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 1,278 - 1,278 629 - 629 91 - 91 101 101 30 - 30 107 - 107 |
|---|---|
| 1,399 - 1,399 837 - 837 (2,072) - (2,072) (5,735) (20) (5,755) |
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| (2,072) - (2,072) (5,735) (20) (5,755) (673) - (673) (4,898) (20) (4,918) 1,023 - 1,023 5,921 20 5,941 |
|
| 350 - 350 1,023 - 1,023 |
All of the above results are derived from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 18 to 24 form part of these financial statements.
15
Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
Balance Sheet
As at 31 December 2024
Company No: 2007475 Charity No: 294230
| Notes Current assets Investments 10 Debtors: amounts falling due within one year 11 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors:amounts falling due within one year 12 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Net assets Funds Unrestricted funds 15 Restricted funds 15 Total funds |
2024 2023 £'000 £'000 - 2,000 441 713 397 731 |
|---|---|
| 838 3,444 (488) (2,421) |
|
| 350 1,023 |
|
| 350 1,023 |
|
| 350 1,023 |
|
| 350 1,023 - - |
|
| 350 1,023 |
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 10 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Patricia Whaley
Trustee
The notes on pages 18 to 24 form part of these financial statements.
16
Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
Cash Flow Statement
For the period ended 31 December 2024
| Cash outflows from operating activities Net expenditure for the reporting period Adjustments for: Investment income Decrease in debtors (Decrease)/increase in creditors Cash inflows/(outflows) from investing activities Investment Income Additions of short-term investments Withdrawal of short-term investments Decrease in cash at bank and in hand Cash at bank and in hand at the beginning of the reporting period Cash at bank and in hand at the end of the reporting period |
2024 2023 £'000 £'000 (673) (4,918) (88) (49) 272 741 (1,933) 2,415 |
|---|---|
| (2,422) (1,811) |
|
| 88 49 - (6,200) 2,000 4,565 |
|
| 2,088 (1,586) |
|
| (334) (3,397) 731 4,128 |
|
| 397 **731 ** |
The notes on pages 18 to 24 form part of these financial statements.
17
Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements
for the period ended 31 December 2024
1 Company Information
Amnesty International Charity is a charity limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales under company number 2007475 and charity number 294230. Its registered office is 1 Easton Street, London, WC1X 0DW. Amnesty International Charity is a not-for-profit organisation whose activities are intended to be for the public benefit. Amnesty International Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102.
2 Basis of Accounting
Basis of preparation
The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) FRS 102, applicable to accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019, and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Charities Act 2011, and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP).
Going Concern
The Trustees have assessed the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Trustees have considered several factors when forming their conclusion as to whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate when preparing these financial statements including a review of updated forecasts to the end of 2025 and a consideration of key risks, that could negatively affect the Charity together with the level of free reserves held. The Charity is forecast to receive donations and legacies from members of the public and Gift Aid grants from AIL in 2025 and 2026. In consideration of the committed expenditure of the Charity and reserves of £350k (against target free reserves of £40k), the Trustees believe that the Charity has adequate financial resources and is well placed to manage business risks. The Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
The Trustees believe that there are no material uncertainties that call into doubt the Charity’s ability to continue. The accounts have therefore been prepared on the basis that the Charity is a going concern.
Scope
These financial statements reflect the activities of only Amnesty International Charity. They do not include the activities of Amnesty International Limited (AIL), or of the sections of the Amnesty International movement, as these are all separate legal entities that are neither owned nor controlled by the Charity.
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. They have all been applied consistently throughout the current and preceding years.
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
3 Accounting Policies
Income
Income is recognised in the period in which entitlement is established, when economic benefit is probable and the value can be measured reliably.
Legacies
Legacy income is brought into the accounts when entitlement has been established, receipt of income is probable, and the value can be measured reliably. Sufficient evidence for entitlement is deemed to be when probate has been granted, there is evidence that there are sufficient assets to pay the legacy after settling liabilities, and conditions to receive the legacy are either within the control of Amnesty International Charity or have been met. Pecuniary legacies are recognised upon notification on behalf of the estate’s executors. Residuary legacies are recognised when final estate accounts have been received.
Grants
Where no performance conditions relating to the receipt of income are set then grant revenue is recognised when receivable (when the conditions of entitlement, probability and measurability have been met).
Investments, which relate to money market deposits, are carried at cost.
Fund accounting
The Charity maintains the following types of funds:
-
Restricted: where the donor has specified that the donation be used for a particular purpose.
-
Unrestricted: for use by the Trustees to further the Charity’s objects.
Expenditure
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and is recognised in the period to which it relates and includes an element of VAT which cannot be recovered. Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to the expenditure.
Grants payable are recorded as expenditure in the period in which they are approved by the trustees and communicated to the recipient, provided that any conditions attaching to the grant are outside the control of the charity.
Charitable activities comprise funding awarded to further the objectives and activities detailed in section 2 of the Trustees Report.
Irrecoverable VAT
Irrecoverable VAT is included in the costs recharged by AIL where it is incurred.
19
Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
3 Accounting Policies (continued)
Foreign currency
Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of the transaction.
Foreign exchange gains and losses arise mainly on the conversion and translation of income received and held in the Charity’s GBP bank accounts. As such the net gain or loss is included within income in the Statement of Financial Activities.
Cash and Cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash held in current accounts, and liquid resources comprising short-term deposits with banks which mature within 90 days of date of inception.
Significant estimates and judgements
In the application of the Charity’s accounting policies, Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
In the view of the Trustees, no assumptions concerning the future or estimation uncertainty affecting assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date are likely to result in a material adjustment to their carrying amounts in the next financial year.
Key sources of estimation uncertainty that have a significant effect on the accounts are:
- Legacy accrued income (see above for accounting policy)
Financial Instruments
Amnesty International Charity has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Financial assets held at amortised cost comprise investments and cash at bank and in hand. Financial liabilities held at amortised cost comprise trade and other creditors.
20
Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
4 Donations and Legacies
| Donations and legacies Donation under Gift Aid from AIL Total donations and legacies |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds 2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 778 - 778 629 - 629 500 - 500 - - - |
|---|---|
| 1,278 - 1,278 629 - 629 |
As of 31 December 2024, the Charity had a legacy pipeline of £4,648k (31 December 2023: £1,288k). The amounts in the legacy pipeline had not met the criteria for revenue recognition as described in Accounting Policies above.
5 Expenditure
| Unrestricted grants for research into human rights violations Total charitable activities |
Direct Support Total Direct Support Total Costs Costs Costs Costs Costs Costs 2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 1,932 140 2,072 5,615 140 5,755 |
|---|---|
| 1,932 140 2,072 5,615 140 5,755 |
The 2024 Unrestricted grants for research into human rights violations represents the grants made in 2024 less the underspend of £946k against 2023 projects. The 2023 figure includes underspend of £34k against 2022 projects. See note 7 for further details.
6 Support Costs
| Occupancy costs Professional fees Service fee charged from AIL |
2024 2024 2023 2023 Charitable activities Total Charitable activities Total £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 91 91 102 102 25 25 15 15 24 24 23 23 |
|---|---|
| 140 140 140 140 |
The Auditor’s remuneration for the Charity is £21k + VAT (2022: £12k + VAT). There were no other Governance costs in 2024 (2023: £nil).
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
7 Grants
In the year to 31 December 2024, the Charity made tranche grant payments to support specific human rights activities conducted by AIL totalling £2,878k (2023: £5,649k), which includes a balancing payment of £365k for project work carried out in 2023 (2022: £380k). In addition, £946k unspent prior year grant payments were returned to the Charity by AIL (2023: £34k). In the financial statements the net figure of £1,932k was recognised as unrestricted grant funding which is the net figure of £2,878k less the £946k unspent from prior year. In 2025 the Charity approved payment of a final tranche of the grant for project work carried out in AIL in 2024 of £508k, making a total grant payment for activities in 2024 of £2,074k (2023: £5,614k).
8 Employees and Trustees
The Charity had no employees during the year (2023: nil).
The Trustees of the Charity did not receive any remuneration during the period (2023: nil) from the Charity for their services as directors and Trustees of the Charity.
Two Trustees received reimbursement of total £394 for expenses in 2024 (2023: £108). The expenses were for travel, accommodation and subsistence.
9 Taxation
As a charity, Amnesty International Charity is exempt from tax on income and gains under sections 466 to 493 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010, to the extent that all income is applied for charitable purposes. No tax charges have arisen in the Charity in the current or prior year.
10 Investments
| Carrying value at start of period (Disposals)/additions of investments at cost Carrying value at end of period |
2024 2023 £'000 £'000 2,000 365 (2,000) 1,635 - 2,000 |
|---|---|
Investments comprise money market deposits.
11 Debtors
| tors | |
|---|---|
| Accrued income | 2024 2023 £'000 £'000 441 713 |
| 441 713 |
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Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
12 Creditors
| Amounts due to AIL Accruals |
2024 2023 £'000 £'000 462 2,407 26 14 |
|---|---|
| 488 2,421 |
Amounts due to AIL consist of the 2024 Tranche 2 payment of £522k (50% of 2024 Tranche 2 amount) and offset by legacies income of £59k received in AIL on behalf of AIC. Accruals in 2024 and 2023 relate to accrued audit fees.
13 Financial Instruments
At the balance sheet date the Charity held financial assets at amortised cost of £396k (2023: £2,731k) and financial liabilities at amortised cost of £487k (2023: £2,421k).
14 Parent Entity
Amnesty International Charity is a registered charity and undertakes certain aspects of the work of Amnesty International which are charitable under the law of England and Wales. The Charity is considered a subsidiary of AIL, as AIL is the sole member of the Charity, and appoints the Charity’s Trustees.
AIL is a limited liability company in England and Wales under number 1606776 and its registered office is 1 Easton Street, London, WC1X 0DW. Consolidated accounts can be obtained from this address. AIL is a not-forprofit organisation whose activities are intended to be for the public benefit.
15 Funds Note
The movement on funds during the year were as follows:
| 31 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | December | |||
| 2024 | Income | Expenditure | 2024 | |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Unrestricted funds | 1,023 | 1,399 | (2,072) | 350 |
| Restricted funds | - | - | - | - |
| 1,023 | 1,399 | (2,072) | 350 | |
| he movement on funds during the prior year were as follows: | ||||
| 31 | ||||
| 1 January | December | |||
| 2023 | Income | Expenditure | 2023 | |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Unrestricted funds | 5,921 | 837 | (5,735) | 1,023 |
| Restricted funds | 20 | - | (20) | - |
| 5,941 | 837 | (5,755) | 1,023 |
The movement on funds during the prior year were as follows:
23
Amnesty International Charity (a company limited by guarantee)
16 Analysis of Net Assets between Funds
| Current Assets Short term investments Cash at bank and in hand Debtors: amounts falling due within one year Creditors:amounts falling due within one year Net current assets and net assets Total funds as at the end of the reporting period |
2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023 Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 - - - 2,000 - 2,000 397 - 397 731 - 731 441 - 441 713 - 713 838 - 837 3,444 - 3,444 (488) - (488) (2,421) -(2,421) 350 - 350 1,023 - 1,023 350 - 350 1,023 - 1,023 |
|---|---|
17 Related Party Transactions
The Charity’s only related party transactions were with its parent company, AIL.
Related party balances
At 31 December the Charity had the following balance with AIL:
| 2024 |
2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| £'000 |
£'000 | |
| Amounts due to AIL | (462) |
(2,407) |
Related party transactions
During the year the following transactions took place with AIL reflecting monies flowing in/(out) of the Charity:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| £'000 | £'000 | |
| Donation under Gift Aid from AIL | 500 | - |
| Service fee charged to AIL | 91 | 101 |
| Funds granted to AIL to perform charitable work on behalf of the | ||
| Charity | (2,878) | (5,649) |
| Grant Funds returned | 946 | 34 |
| Service fee charged by AIL | (24) | (23) |
| 18 Events after the Balance Sheet date |
There are no material post-balance sheet events to report.
24