Operation Smile United Kingdom
Operation Smile is an international volunteer based medical services charity providing free reconstructive surgery and aftercare to children and young adults around the world, primarily for cleft lips and/or palates. In the UK, we raise funds to treat facial deformities, recruit and supply medical volunteers, help train local medical teams/build infrastructure & public raise awareness.
Activities & Mission
Operation Smile is an international volunteer based medical services charity providing free reconstructive surgery and aftercare to children and young adults around the world, primarily for cleft lips and/or palates. In the UK, we raise funds to treat facial deformities, recruit and supply medical volunteers, help train local medical teams/build infrastructure & public raise awareness.
Areas of Operation
Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.
Show all 13 areas of operation Hide areas of operation
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 12% of UK Charity and VCS support charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 520). How is this calculated?
Higher than 9% of UK Charity and VCS support charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 5% of UK Charity and VCS support charities with income £1M to £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?
Latest Financial Breakdown
Income Sources
Expenditure Categories
Financial Trend
Annual Returns
As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | £7,495,196 | £7,229,194 | £3,943,392 | £3,005,431 | £1,400,000 | 27 / 89 |
| 2024 | £7,148,759 | £7,807,674 | £4,073,657 | £2,739,482 | £2,706,442 | 31 / 24 |
| 2023 | £7,468,295 | £7,816,116 | £4,306,005 | £3,407,295 | £3,375,454 | 24 / 35 |
| 2022 | £6,719,504 | £5,901,165 | £2,658,742 | £3,755,116 | £3,741,640 | 21 / 95 |
| 2021 | £6,172,662 | £5,296,734 | £3,346,818 | £2,936,069 | £2,622,378 | 18 / 75 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about Operation Smile United Kingdom
What does Operation Smile United Kingdom do?
Operation Smile is an international volunteer based medical services charity providing free reconstructive surgery and aftercare to children and young adults around the world, primarily for cleft lips and/or palates. In the UK, we raise funds to treat facial deformities, recruit and supply medical volunteers, help train local medical teams/build infrastructure & public raise awareness.
How much income did Operation Smile United Kingdom report in 2025?
Operation Smile United Kingdom reported total income of £7.50m and reported expenditure of £7.23m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is Operation Smile United Kingdom?
Operation Smile United Kingdom has a program ratio of 52.6%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 12% of UK Charity and VCS support charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 520 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was Operation Smile United Kingdom registered as a charity?
Operation Smile United Kingdom was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 22 March 2002 as charity number 1091316. It has been registered for 24 years.
Who runs Operation Smile United Kingdom?
Operation Smile United Kingdom is governed by a board of 8 trustees. The chair of trustees is Saqib Alam. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does Operation Smile United Kingdom operate?
Operation Smile United Kingdom operates across 13 areas, including Bolivia, Congo (Democratic Republic), Ethiopia and 10 others. The full list is shown on its profile.
Is Operation Smile United Kingdom a registered charity?
Yes — Operation Smile United Kingdom is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1091316.
Details
Unit A
Genoa House
Juniper Drive
LONDON
SW18 1FY
Registry Information
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Trustees
Sectors & Classifications
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated