BAND AID
CHARITABLE TRUST
Since 1984, the Band Aid Charitable Trust has raised and spent more than £145 million towards eradicating hunger and poverty in Ethiopia and beyond.
The Trust’s efforts have funded food, medicine, housing, hospitals, water, infrastructure, schools and more. With no staff, no offices and minimal overhead costs, The Trust is able to give almost all of the money it raises directly to those in need.
Alongside its charitable projects, the Trust has created, nurtured and protected intellectual property as a way of developing regular annual income streams, which in turn enable the Trust to continue its urgent work.
RECENT &
ONGOING
PROJECTS
REBUILDING HOPE: PARTNERING WITH HAMLIN FISTULA UK
In Ethiopia today, countless women lack access to essential maternal healthcare. Hamlin Fistula is a national healthcare network powered by 500+ Ethiopian professionals dedicated to tackling this problem and transforming lives. The team operates six specialised fistula hospitals, a rehabilitation centre, the Hamlin College of Midwives, and supports more than 60 rural midwifery clinics.
In 2023-2024 alone, the Trust provided Hamlin Fistula with a grant of almost £100,000, which has helped them achieve the following extraordinary results
Purchase and delivery of vital clinical equipment to hospitals and rural health centres
Over 900 life-saving surgeries in Tigray
Over 1,000 life-changing surgeries in Southern Ethiopia
More than 1,100 babies safely delivered by Hamlin midwives
Support for 19 midwives at 17 rural health centres
400+ women completing literacy and numeracy classes so they can read, write, carry out bank transactions and use a telephone
Genet’s Story:
Watch Now
With war raging around her when she went into labour, Genet had no option but to try and deliver her baby at home in Tigray without a midwife. Tragically, her baby was stillborn, and she suffered horrific injuries in the process. After great pain and trauma, Genet eventually found her way to Hamlin’s Mekele Fistula Hospital where she received the vital treatment she needed. The presence of a Hamlin midwife could have prevented her terrible suffering, but thanks to their care, Genet is finally back home and looking to the future.
Kelemi’s Story
During her first pregnancy, Kelemi had limited access to health care. She endured three days of labour without support from a midwife. Eventually, her family carried her to the nearest hospital, but it was too late. Her baby was stillborn, and Kelemi was left incontinent from a severe obstetric fistula. For years, she lived with this devastating condition until she heard about treatment available at Yirgalem, where Kelemi safely delivered her second child. With her baby wrapped in a colourful blanket knitted by a Hamlin supporter, Kelemi's smile says it all — after years of struggle, a true rainbow of hope!
A LIFELINE FOR CHILDREN: SUPPORTING MARY’S MEALS
Food insecurity continues to have a devasting impact on the Ethiopian population, 36.8% of children under five are affected by stunting and 10% of children under five are affected by wasting. Mary’s Meals is dedicated to ensuring every child receives a daily meal in their place of education. They have been serving school meals in Tigray, Ethiopia since 2017.
The Tigray region has been torn apart by major conflict, and this combined with years of prolonged drought to cause more than three years of disruption to children’s education. Children are returning to the classroom but they desperately need school meals to encourage them to attend and give them the energy they need to concentrate on lessons. Mary’s Meals, with the support of the Band Aid Charitable Trust, provides a crucial lifeline and a powerful incentive to stay in school.
The Trust has played a crucial role across different areas of the Mary’s Meals school feeding programme, which has a life-changing impact on the children they serve.
The Trust’s contributions to Mary’s Meals has helped them achieve great things:
More than 120,000 children in more than 210 schools in Tigray receive meals every school day.
Children across 12 districts in Tigray are back in school
JUST FOR ONE DAY:
THE LIVE AID MUSICAL
10% of all ticket sales from this powerfully inspiring new stage musical will be donated to the Trust and go directly to our charitable projects.
JOIN US: Learn more about the show and book tickets below
Trustees
- Bob Geldof
- Midge Ure
- Harvey Goldsmith
- John Kennedy
- Michael Grade
- Chris Morrison
Accountants
- Joe Cannon
- Shalini Rajan
- At Ernst & Young
Solicitors
- Bray & Krais
- Mark Krais
- Simon Dixon
- Monica Thornell