A message from Chief Executive Tim Wainwright and Chair of Trustees Tim Clark:
"We are resolutely focused on making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere. Using these three essentials, people can unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good.
"At current rates of progress, everyone in the least developed countries won’t have safely managed water until 2131, or sanitation until 2109. And that is without taking into account the future impact of climate change. We are already working with communities grappling with the impact of this on their lives, and helping others prepare for it in the next few years. But the global response has been far too slow.
"That is where we come in – as catalysts to make faster progress. In 2018–19, we touched hundreds of thousands of lives by delivering services directly to people’s homes, schools and healthcare centres like the one in Talo, Mali. Take a look at the difference clean water has made for doctors, workers and patients:
"For a bigger impact, we also reach people indirectly by strengthening and influencing others who can greatly multiply our own contribution.
"As ever, none of this could have happened without our passionate support network. Individuals, our founders in the UK water industry, partner institutions and companies, and governments have all contributed hugely.
Our heartfelt thanks go to every single person involved."
Our reach and impact
Last year, thanks to our generous supporters and partners, we reached millions of people directly and indirectly through our work in communities, schools and healthcare facilities.
Our direct reach in numbers
Stories of our direct impact
Directly reaching people near their homes
"I am happy that as a community we have a new life of having clean water. My hope for the future is to see my son grow up healthier than we used to."
"I am happy that as a community we have a new life of having clean water. My hope for the future is to see my son grow up healthier than we used to."
Vahia from Mozambique struggled to find clean water during her first pregnancy, but that has all changed for her second pregnancy since we installed a borehole.
Long lasting water and sanitation in schools
"Our school has 120 students. We get water from our school tap and we no longer have to send students to the community borehole."
"Our school has 120 students. We get water from our school tap and we no longer have to send students to the community borehole."
Headteacher Weere and his students of Father Bill School in Uganda can now concentrate on education thanks to our work with the H&M Foundation the Ugandan Government.
Protecting staff and patients in healthcare centres
"Even if we give vaccinations against diarrhoea to children, they still get sick if they drink dirty water and ignore other hygiene practices."
"Even if we give vaccinations against diarrhoea to children, they still get sick if they drink dirty water and ignore other hygiene practices."
Nurse Lennie N'guni who is looking after Virginia and her baby Collins in Mwanza Clinic in Zambia. As well as new facilities, we trained staff to teach good hygiene.
Reaching people indirectly
We will only reach everyone, everywhere with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene if, in addition to directly delivering services ourselves, we build the capacity of local institutions to deliver better quality, sustainable services.
There is little precedent in measuring the reach of this type of work. Last year, we piloted a new approach in five countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Nepal, Rwanda and Uganda, to report on the people reached. For full figures of our reach and impact in these countries, see our full annual report.
Through new or improved services, we reached hundreds of thousands of people with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene through better facilities and behaviour change activities, in or near people's homes, schools and healthcare facilities.
Influencing people for a bigger impact
By influencing change at scale, we were able to reach even more people. We did this by working with governments to strengthen the institutions that deliver these services, providing models for others to replicate, and advocating for changes in policy and practice.
We scaled up successful pilot projects in Mali, Myanmar and Nepal. We cocreated national guidance and policy in eSwatini, Nigeria and Tanzania. We shared our knowledge on improving nutrition and reducing antimicrobial resistance with tens of countries. And we helped secure a resolution at the World Health Assembly to end cholera. Together we’re making a bigger difference.
Stories of successful influencing which led to positive and lasting change
Improved facilities in dispensaries in Tanzania
"Many expectant mothers didn't want to deliver here because they never trusted the available facilities. I am excited about all these improvements here."
"Many expectant mothers didn't want to deliver here because they never trusted the available facilities. I am excited about all these improvements here."
Nurse Grace Mabera Lufu in Kakora Dispensary in Geita, Tanzania, where sanitation and hygiene conditions have greatly improved.
Transforming health systems in Mali
"I feel better now. When I work, I do not fear infections, because we have potable water and soap to wash our hands properly and clean our materials and spaces."
"I feel better now. When I work, I do not fear infections, because we have potable water and soap to wash our hands properly and clean our materials and spaces."
Matron Salimata cares for Kadia and her new baby. Thanks to everyone who supported our Water Effect Appeal, services are transformed for the better at Talo Health Centre.
Securing a global resolution on cholera
"Every household has the same situation in our village. They also have to fetch water from afar. The water is not safe to drink. It causes sickness."
"Every household has the same situation in our village. They also have to fetch water from afar. The water is not safe to drink. It causes sickness."
Anisha is one of thousands of children who will benefit after several years of influencing the Government in Nepal to approve guidelines to improved services.
Our fundraising
We introduced new ways of engaging with people, alongside new ways of doing familiar things. Thank you to everyone who supported us. Without you, and our many volunteers helping us in offices and at events, we would not be able to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for so many people.
The Water Effect
Our biggest fundraiser focused on life for communities without water. It underpinned all of our activities and raised over £2 million thanks to generous support.
Building resilience to climate change
With support from HSBC, we helped Shila set up a water committee in her community in Bangladesh, after floods and storms made the water unsafe to drink.
Thames loves Malawi
Thames Water's campaign, Thames Loves Malawi, has just celebrated reaching £1 million. The campaign reached thousands with water and sanitation in two towns in Malawi.
Our finances
The UK charity sector has seen a consistent decline in the volume and value of funds raised by the public over the last three years. Once again, we bucked the trend last year and grew income sourced from the UK public by over 2%.
Income
Total income grew by 10% from the previous financial year, with particular successes in grant funding from large institutions and corporates. Overall, we generated restricted income in excess of £34 million, the highest level reported to date.
We are particularly grateful for the continued support of 354,000 regular givers, of which 37,800 were new donors. This regular support provides a financial base that makes us more resilient in difficult times.
Expenditure
Total expenditure grew by 1% from the previous financial year. Two main reasons account for this limited growth in spend. In 2018-19, we went through an ambitious planning period to scale up our programmes in the countries we work in over the next two years. As part of that planning a priority focus was securing significant amounts of grant income for specific activities which would commence in future years.
We also decided to increase our operational reserve funds to the upper end of our target range following an assessment of increased operational and economic risks in the countries in which we work.
Last year we were able to invest 26% of our expenditure in raising essential funds. This helped our income increase by 10%, allowing us to reach even more vulnerable communities. For each pound we invested in fundraising we raised £4.29, which is testament to the ongoing generosity of our supporters.
For a more detailed financial review and more stories of our impact this financial year, please download our full UK annual report 2018-19.
Thank you
Our successes in helping people transform their lives are only made possible by working together with individuals and organisations who share our vision. Their passion and commitment drive us forward. To everyone who contributed to our work last year, thank you.
We've achieved so much from the UK, and as a federation, globally we've managed to extend our reach even further.