The HALO Trust
Humanitarian mine-clearance charity; CSSF contractor
| The HALO Trust | |
|---|---|
| Trade name | |
| Logo | |
| Type | Company registered at Companies House |
| Founded | 9 March 1988 (incorporated) |
| Founder(s) | |
| Defunct | |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Industry | Other transportation support activities |
| Services | |
| Parent | |
| Subsidiaries | |
| Revenue | |
| Number of employees | |
| Homepage | |
The HALO Trust (The Halo Trust, Companies House number 02228587) is a contractor to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF). Companies House records the company as incorporated on 9 March 1988, with status "Active", nature of business "52290 - Other transportation support activities".[1][2] It is a named supplier on Lot 1 and Lot 3 of the CSSF Framework Agreement 2023–27.[3] Contracts Finder lists 4 published CSSF award(s) to the organisation with a combined stated value of £5,405,689. FCO and FCDO payments to it over £25,000 recorded in published departmental spending data total about £63,726,444; these figures cover all FCO/FCDO (and, after September 2020, former Department for International Development) programmes and are not limited to the CSSF.[4]
Overview
The HALO Trust is a registered charity (1001813). Charity Commission data show total income of £165.65 million in the year to 31 March 2025, including £7.89 million from government contracts.[5]
CSSF/ISF and other UK government work
In January 2025 the government announced it would extend FCDO contracts with HALO for mine action in Ukraine and Afghanistan to the end of March 2026, "providing £4.3 million for work in Ukraine and £3 million for work in Afghanistan".[6] Devex reported that HALO had the largest proportional cut in UK government funding among large UK development charities when aid was reduced, "from £34.9 million in 2020 to £12.7 million in 2021, or a 63.6% decrease".[7]
The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) reviewed the CSSF's aid spending in March 2018 and gave it an amber-red score, finding the fund responsive to National Security Council priorities but with weak results management and inadequate evidence of outcomes and value for money.[8] ICAI published a follow-up review in 2019.[9]
Controversies and criticism
In July 2014 HALO's trustees suspended its founder and chief executive Guy Willoughby, citing "a serious deterioration in relations between him and the board over the governance of the charity". This followed a Sunday Telegraph report on his £220,000-a-year pay package, which reportedly included school fees for three of his children. The BBC noted that HALO then received £3.7m a year from DFID.[10]
In August 2000 Russia's FSB accused HALO of spying and of training Chechen rebel fighters while working in Chechnya between 1997 and 1999. It alleged that a former team leader was a British military intelligence officer. Guy Willoughby "flatly dismissed" the charges, and Whitehall officials called them "speculation", The Guardian reported.[11]
Key people
HALO's board has included several former senior officials. Its 2025 annual report names Lord Evans of Weardale, former director general of MI5, as chair, and Lieutenant General (Retired) Sir Barney White-Spunner as a trustee.[12] Former Cabinet Secretary and National Security Adviser Mark Sedwill was a director in 2015–17 and 2020–22.[2]
Published CSSF contracts
| Award date | Contract | Value (£) | Supplier name as published | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-11-12 | CSSF Libya: Mechanical Clearance of Battle Areas | 1,900,000 | The Halo Trust | [13] |
| 2019-05-09 | CSSF: Prevention of violent conflict in Abkhazia through removal of ammunition | 229,250 | The HALO Trust | [14] |
| 2019-06-25 | CSSF: Sri Lanka Landmine Clearance | 2,000,000 | The HALO Trust | [15] |
| 2021-07-16 | CSSF Libya: Mine Action Programme (2021-2024) | 1,276,439 | The Halo Trust | [16] |
FCO/FCDO payments
| Year | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 48,565 |
| 2013 | 32,628 |
| 2014 | 321,233 |
| 2015 | 292,173 |
| 2016 | 2,364,953 |
| 2017 | 3,871,689 |
| 2018 | 3,976,702 |
| 2019 | 8,314,007 |
| 2020 | 6,636,704 |
| 2021 | 13,427,837 |
| 2022 | 6,137,975 |
| 2023 | 12,184,180 |
| 2024 | 5,840,140 |
| 2025 | 277,657 |
| Total | 63,726,444 |
People
| Name | Role | Appointed | Resigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Unwin (Alice Louisa Unwin) | Secretary | 10 June 2024 | – |
| Farzana Baduel (Farzana Sportoletti Baduel) | Director | 8 April 2025 | – |
| Anthony Beeley (Anthony Patrick Mycroft Beeley) | Director | 10 June 2016 | – |
| Faeth Birch | Director | 8 April 2025 | – |
| John Deans (John Alexander Deans) | Director | 20 September 2022 | – |
| Jonathan Evans (Jonathan Douglas Evans) | Director | 1 November 2023 | – |
| Lucia Halpern (Lucia Veronica Halpern) | Director | 15 March 2022 | – |
| Michael Hintze (Lord Michael Hintze) | Director | 1 January 2026 | – |
| John Raine (John Andrew Raine) | Director | 1 January 2019 | – |
| Emma Sky | Director | 16 May 2021 | – |
| Bradley Tirpak | Director | 1 January 2026 | – |
| Barnabas White-Spunner (Lieutenant General Sir Barnabas William Benjamin White-Spunner) | Director | 16 May 2021 | – |
| Caroline Wicks (Caroline Philippa Wicks) | Director | 1 November 2023 | – |
| Brian Collett | Secretary | 17 November 1999 | 20 January 2003 |
| John D'Ardenne | Secretary | – | 16 November 1999 |
| Neil Fraser (Neil Arthur Fraser) | Secretary | 1 December 2008 | 18 July 2011 |
| Peter Richardson | Secretary | 31 January 2003 | 10 October 2008 |
| Anthony Wigan (Anthony John Wigan) | Secretary | 18 July 2011 | 16 April 2024 |
| Mark Aedy (Mark Jonathan Aedy) | Director | 27 February 2018 | 30 April 2024 |
| José Agostinho (José Pedro Agostinho) | Director | 1 February 2021 | 9 January 2026 |
| Anthony Bird (Anthony William Bird) | Director | 19 October 2010 | 20 September 2022 |
| Alexander Blyth (Alexander Douglas Naismith Blyth) | Director | 1 March 2000 | 13 November 2006 |
| Thomas Bradby (Thomas Matthew Bradby) | Director | 1 November 2012 | 9 October 2015 |
| Timothy Church (Timothy John Edward Church) | Director | 10 June 2016 | 20 December 2023 |
| Simon Conway (Simon Goodwin Conway) | Director | 1 November 2012 | 30 June 2015 |
| Ruth Davidson (Ruth Elizabeth Davidson) | Director | 20 March 2020 | 1 February 2023 |
| Jane Davis (Jane Elizabeth Davis) | Director | 10 December 2013 | 1 July 2025 |
| Alnimah Elbagir | Director | 14 December 2017 | 17 March 2020 |
| Alexander Grinling (Alexander Lawrence Grinling) | Director | 6 December 1999 | 27 October 2011 |
| Mia Hamwey | Director | 11 October 2016 | 30 March 2018 |
| Angelina Jolie | Director | 31 October 2012 | 23 May 2014 |
| Anthony Lowther Pinkerton (Anthony James Moxon Lowther Pinkerton) | Director | 2 May 2005 | 1 February 2016 |
| Cindy McCain | Director | 2 October 2014 | 6 December 2015 |
| Thomas McMullen (Thomas Peter McMullen) | Director | 26 May 2005 | 22 April 2014 |
| Michael Merton (Michael Ralph Merton) | Director | 13 May 2010 | 6 July 2016 |
| Colin Mitchell (Colin Campbell Mitchell) | Director | – | 30 July 1996 |
| Jean Mitchell (Jean Hamilton Susan Mitchell) | Director | – | 19 September 2000 |
| Lorne Mitchell (Lorne Colin Campbell Mitchell) | Director | 22 August 1996 | 1 March 2000 |
| Gemma Mortensen (Gemma Rachel Mortensen) | Director | 1 January 2019 | 20 December 2021 |
| Patrick Nicoll (Patrick Guy Nicoll) | Director | 8 September 2015 | 15 May 2021 |
| Daniel Plesch (Dr Daniel Tibor Plesch) | Director | 15 September 2007 | 13 November 2009 |
| Amanda Pullinger (Amanda Joy Pullinger) | Director | 13 December 2013 | 31 December 2017 |
| Andrew Robathan (Andrew Robert George Robathan) | Director | 1 March 2000 | 23 November 2006 |
| Rexon Ryu (Rexon Youngsun Ryu) | Director | 9 April 2024 | 1 January 2026 |
| Mark Sedwill (The Rt. Hon. Lord Sedwill Mark Philip Sedwill) | Director | 29 March 2020 | 30 June 2022 |
| Mark Sedwill (Sir Mark Philip Sedwill) | Director | 29 July 2015 | 30 March 2017 |
| Anastasia Staten (Anastasia Ann Staten) | Director | 22 May 2018 | 13 December 2023 |
| Stephen Teal (Stephen William Teal) | Director | 1 January 2026 | 1 July 2026 |
| Aldwin Wight (Brigadier Aldwin James Glendinning Wight) | Director | 13 September 2007 | 30 November 2012 |
| Fiona Willoughby (Fiona Kathryn Willoughby) | Director | 22 August 1996 | 1 March 2000 |
| Guy Willoughby (Guy Nesbit John Willoughby) | Director | – | 28 September 2007 |
| Rupert Younger (Rupert Edward Alexander Younger) | Director | 10 June 2016 | 20 September 2022 |
See also
Notes
- ↑ Companies House, THE HALO TRUST (02228587) Companies House, accessed 16 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Companies House, THE HALO TRUST (02228587): officers Companies House, accessed 16 October 2026.
- ↑ Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Framework Agreement (2023-2027): contract award notice 029743-2023 Find a Tender Service, 2023.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Foreign and Commonwealth Office, FCO departmental spending over £25,000 GOV.UK, 2010–2020; Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO: departmental spending over £25,000 GOV.UK, 2020–2026.
- ↑ Charity Commission for England and Wales, The HALO Trust – 1001813: financial history Register of Charities, accessed 16 October 2026.
- ↑ GOV.UK, UK government boosts support for Scottish de-mining charity’s work in Ukraine and Afghanistan GOV.UK, 2025.
- ↑ Devex, The falling income of the UK's largest development charities Devex, accessed 16 October 2026.
- ↑ Independent Commission for Aid Impact, The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund's aid spending ICAI, March 2018.
- ↑ Independent Commission for Aid Impact, ICAI follow-up of: The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund's aid spending ICAI, 2019.
- ↑ BBC News, Halo Trust landmine charity suspends founder Guy Willoughby BBC News, 5 July 2014.
- ↑ Ian Traynor, Amelia Gentleman and Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian, UK charity accused of spying The Guardian, 11 August 2000.
- ↑ The HALO Trust, Annual Report and Financial Statements 2025 The HALO Trust, 2025.
- ↑ Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, CSSF Libya: Mechanical Clearance of Battle Areas Contracts Finder, 2018-11-12.
- ↑ Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, CSSF: Prevention of violent conflict in Abkhazia through removal of ammunition Contracts Finder, 2019-05-09.
- ↑ Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, CSSF: Sri Lanka Landmine Clearance Contracts Finder, 2019-06-25.
- ↑ Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, CSSF Libya: Mine Action Programme (2021-2024) Contracts Finder, 2021-07-16.