UNA-UK Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024–2025 — Overview
Title: Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2025
Published: 30 January 2026 on the UNA-UK website. (UNA-UK)
The report summarises UNA-UK’s activities, financials and strategic direction during a period of deep global instability, notably marked by ongoing conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, climate challenges, and pressures on multilateral cooperation — all of which underline the importance of UNA-UK’s mission to support the United Nations and strengthen multilateralism. (UNA-UK)
Leadership Reflections
Chair’s Foreword – Ian Martin
- 80th anniversary year: Ian Martin notes that 2025 marked a milestone year for the UN system and for UNA-UK as it celebrated the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter.
- Global challenges: Growing wars, climate threats, widening humanitarian needs, and shrinking progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were emphasised as critical global trends.
- Need for cooperation: Martin stresses that multilateralism, international law and global cooperation are essential for addressing complex transnational problems — from nuclear risks to climate and humanitarian crises.
- People’s movement: He reflects on UNA-UK’s historic roots as a grassroots movement supporting the UN, and on its continuing role connecting expert policy networks with local communities. (UNA-UK)
CEO’s Note – Jane Kinninmont
- New strategic direction: Since joining in June 2025, CEO Jane Kinninmont outlines a new organisational strategy responding to a rapidly changing global landscape.
- Priority areas include:
- Articulating a clear, forward-looking case for the UN’s role in global cooperation.
- Strengthening engagement with the UK government on UN policy and funding.
- Reaffirming the organisation’s voice on international law, human rights, climate risk and systemic global issues.
- Enhancing community building, particularly with members, supporters and young people.
- Developing sustainable fundraising approaches to support the charity’s work and growth.
- Revitalising the Whitehall Court premises as a hub for changemakers and connection.
- The CEO also highlights UNA-UK’s achievements in areas such as nuclear disarmament advocacy and campaigns on emerging threats like lethal autonomous weapons. (UNA-UK)
Strategic Shifts and Priorities
The report underscores a strategic pivot for UNA-UK in response to geopolitical headwinds and domestic context in the UK:
Advocacy & Policy
- UNA-UK intends to strengthen its influence on policy debates in the UK Parliament and with government stakeholders, ensuring that the UK’s role at the UN reflects strong support for international cooperation, peacebuilding, and human rights.
- The strategy highlights UNE-UK’s intent to integrate campaigns (e.g., nuclear justice, climate solutions, human security) into a broader narrative about the importance of strong multilateral systems. (UNA-UK)
Engagement & Community
- Members, volunteers and UNA Groups across the UK are central to UNA-UK’s work. The report points to local activities, public events, educational initiatives, and collaborations that broaden understanding of UN issues and mobilise grassroots support.
- Reviving the Whitehall premises as a space for dialogue and action was emphasised as part of invigorating the organisation’s presence and connectivity. (UNA-UK)
Organisational Development
- UNA-UK outlines efforts to improve its financial resilience, including prioritising sustainable fundraising through foundations, supporters, and strategic use of facilities for events and activities.
- The report signals an intent to strengthen internal structures to better support long-term goals — including research, communication and campaign implementation. (UNA-UK)
Context: UNA-UK in 2024–2025
The Annual Report’s themes build on UNA-UK’s wider work during this period, including:
- Highlighting global issues — from conflict in Ukraine and Sudan to climate impacts and humanitarian funding shortfalls, showing how these issues shaped UNA-UK’s advocacy and public education efforts. (UNA-UK)
- Campaigns and policy engagement — UNA-UK continued work on nuclear disarmament, autonomous weapons regulations (“Stop Killer Robots”), and parliamentary briefings to influence UK and international policy. (UNA-UK)
Financial Statements and Governance
While the full Annual Report & Financial Statements include audited figures and governance reports (e.g., trustees’ reports, financial accounts), the published summary highlights UNA-UK’s commitment to transparency and accountability in resource use over the period. (UNA-UK)
What This Means
In essence, the Annual Report shows:
- UNA-UK confronting global crises with advocacy, education and coalition building.
- A strategic realignment to amplify the UK’s role in multilateral cooperation and to adapt to geopolitical shifts.
- Continued emphasis on connecting local communities and global policy — linking grassroots and expert voices.
- Stronger organisational focus on sustainability, financial resilience and future-oriented campaign strategies. (UNA-UK)
Here’s a case-study–style breakdown with analysis and comments on the UNA-UK Annual Report 2024–2025 — focusing on real examples of impact, strategic lessons from that year, and expert reactions based on UNA-UK’s own reporting and related material. (UNA-UK)
Case Study 1 — Leadership & Strategy Reset
Turning a Milestone Year into Strategic Renewal
UNA-UK’s Chair Ian Martin and CEO Jane Kinninmont used the Annual Report to frame 2024–25 as both a reflection and a pivot point:
- 80th anniversary context: Martin stressed that despite rising global crises — wars, climate breakdown, humanitarian shortfalls — the UN remains indispensable, and UNA-UK’s role is to champion it. (UNA-UK)
- Strategic reset: Since joining mid-2025, the new CEO outlined key strategic priorities for 2026–30, including strengthening engagement with the UK government and reclaiming a voice for “multilateralism with a big-picture, forward-looking approach.” (UNA-UK)
Commentary:
This case illustrates how NGOs can unite branding (e.g., the 80th anniversary), leadership transitions, and organisational strategy into a coherent narrative that both honours legacy and signals a future focus. Rather than simply reporting activity, UNA-UK used its Annual Report to reset expectations about what effective global citizenship work looks like when multilateral institutions are under pressure.
Case Study 2 — Campaign Impact: Nuclear Disarmament & ‘Stop Killer Robots’
Targeted Policy Engagement
During 2024–25, UNA-UK continued sustained advocacy in high-stakes areas:
- Nuclear disarmament: UNA-UK supported efforts at UN meetings, contributing to political declarations condemning deterrence strategies and pushing for stronger non-proliferation rules. (UNA-UK)
- Stop Killer Robots campaign: The organisation convened civil society, governance, and legal experts in UK Parliament to press for a treaty banning lethal autonomous weapons, with 42 states endorsing a statement at a global forum on advancing negotiations toward a treaty. (UNA-UK)
Analysis:
These are concrete examples where a civil society group has moved beyond general advocacy to measurable engagement that influences policy platforms and state positions. For instance, getting dozens of states to sign joint statements is a direct policy outcome — not just awareness-raising — and represents a stronger engagement model than many traditional NGOs achieve.
Commentary:
Campaigns like these show that UNA-UK is blending grassroots mobilisation with policy-level engagement. This dual track helps build credibility with governments while energising members and volunteers.
Case Study 3 — Community & Grassroots Engagements
Building Connections Between Global Policy and Local Groups
UNA-UK actively showcased the work of local UNA Groups across the UK, connecting ordinary citizens with global issues:
- Events, discussions, and educational activities helped bridge understanding between UN priorities and local communities.
- Revitalisation of the Whitehall Court headquarters was positioned as a hub for changemakers — reflecting a commitment to place-based engagement and continual community involvement. (UNA-UK)
Commentary:
This case reflects a broader trend among advocacy organisations where community networks aren’t side projects but core to organisational identity. Embedding global discussions in local action helps sustain interest and recruits future leaders.
Key Themes & Strategic Lessons
1. Navigating a Turbulent Global Context
The Report didn’t shy away from naming systemic risks: prolonged wars, climate instability, shrinking humanitarian budgets, and threats to international law. By explicitly grounding strategy in these realities, UNA-UK avoided the pitfall of abstract advocacy. (UNA-UK)
Commentary:
A strength of this Annual Report is its willingness to embed self-assessment within global challenges, rather than celebrating projects in isolation. That approach builds credibility with policymakers and funders.
2. Strategic Reframing — From Projects to Narrative
Instead of simply cataloguing activities, the Report emphasised:
- Why UNA-UK’s mission matters now (a world of intersecting crises). (UNA-UK)
- How UNA-UK will amplify impact — via stronger government engagement, member mobilisation, and community hubs. (UNA-UK)
Commentary:
Annual reports that tie organisational priorities to bigger narratives (like the future of multilateralism) tend to resonate more with both institutional partners and the broader public.
3. Strategic Alignment With the 2026–2030 Plan
Even though the detailed strategy is a separate document, the Annual Report sets the stage by identifying focus areas — multilateralism, climate risk, human rights, and international law — that align with UNA-UK’s future strategic pillars. (UNA-UK)
Commentary:
Linking an annual operating year to broader long-term strategies doesn’t just show continuity — it signals to supporters that the organisation has a coherent roadmap, which can be reassuring amid global uncertainties.
Overall Comments & Interpretive Notes
Balancing Big Ideas With Specific Campaigns
One standout feature of UNA-UK’s Annual Report is its ability to blend macro-level reflections (global challenges and strategic vision) with micro-level case studies (policy campaigns and community events). This dual lens gives readers both orientation and tangible impact. (UNA-UK)
A Model for Advocacy Organisations
The report offers a useful example for NGOs on:
- elevating campaign results as evidence of influence,
- strategically linking annual achievements to long-term goals, and
- articulating a theory of change that motivates both insiders and external partners.