The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
Trustees Achievements and Performance
During the year ended 31 March 2026, QED Foundation continued to pursue its charitable objectives by delivering a range of projects designed to improve employment prospects, skills, digital and financial inclusion, health and wellbeing, and social integration. The charity also continued to develop partnerships and explore opportunities to diversify its income.
Youth Employment Mentoring Project (YEMP)
The Youth Employment Mentoring Project was a one-year pilot programme running to April 2026. It supported 100 young people aged 18–30 from across the Bradford District to improve their employability skills and progression opportunities.
Participants received an initial assessment followed by one-to-one mentoring from professionals drawn from the community. They were also able to attend up to six employability-related workshops covering practical skills, confidence and preparation for the workplace.
The project achieved encouraging outcomes. More than 30 participants secured employment, while many others progressed into further education, training or volunteering. Feedback from participants was positive, demonstrating the value of combining practical employability support with individual mentoring and access to professional role models.
IT Essential
QED continued its three-year partnership with Santander Foundation to improve digital and financial inclusion among disadvantaged ethnic minority adults in Bradford District.
The project will deliver 15 ten-week IT, digital and financial inclusion and confidence-building courses, supporting a total of 180 participants. Learners work towards an externally accredited Gateway Qualification in Essential Digital Skills at Entry Level 3 or Level 1.
Bridging the Gap
QED continued to provide ESOL support at Pre-Entry and Entry Level 1 through trained volunteers.
The project forms part of an ESOL partnership consortium involving QED, Meridian, Safety First and Womenzone, led by Shipley College. Annual delivery is designed to support approximately 150 beneficiaries through ten classes.
Alongside English-language learning, participants benefit from integration activities, information, advice and guidance (IAG), and digital skills support, helping them to become more confident and independent in their everyday lives.
Pathways to Integration & Health (PTIH)
Funded by Bradford Council, Pathways to Integration & Health provides tailored integration, health, wellbeing and ESOL training and support to economically inactive people currently seeking asylum in Bradford District.
Participants receive individual information, advice and guidance alongside a bespoke programme covering health, wellbeing, ESOL and local orientation. The project also provides vocational training support and visits to cultural and heritage locations, enabling participants to learn more about Bradford and develop stronger connections with their local community.
Breaking Barriers
Breaking Barriers is a three-year project supported through National Lottery Community Fund funding. It assists disadvantaged ethnic minority communities to address continuing challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.
The project combines ESOL provision with support to strengthen digital capability and financial resilience. Its focus is on equipping individuals with practical skills and confidence to participate more fully in society and manage the increasing financial and digital demands of everyday life.
Opportunity Knocks for Graduates
With financial support from the Morrisons Foundation, QED began developing a pilot programme to support 60 ethnic minority graduates living in West Yorkshire.
Research has highlighted significant inequalities in graduate employment outcomes, and the programme is designed to address some of the barriers experienced by graduates from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Participants undertake a four-week training and support programme in cohorts of 12, focusing on employability, networking and confidence-building. QED is also developing an ongoing network to support ethnically diverse graduates in progressing towards employment and career opportunities.
Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire
QED was pleased to support Adeeba Malik, Deputy Chief Executive of QED Foundation, following her appointment as a Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire in December 2025, first Asian woman ever to be appointed to this role in the country.
Her appointment reflects a longstanding contribution to public and community life and demonstrates the wider civic contribution made by QED’s leadership.
Quest House – Room Hire and Income Generation
QED continued to explore opportunities to make effective use of Quest House and generate unrestricted income to support its charitable activities.
Coleman Training hired space at Quest House for three months from 26 January to 31 March 2026, with discussions anticipated regarding a potential longer-term arrangement.
Home Office Test Preparation Courses
During the year, QED introduced fee-charging preparation courses for individuals undertaking English-language tests required for immigration and citizenship purposes, including A2 and B1 English and the Life in the UK Test. The courses support individuals preparing for applications including visa extensions, indefinite leave to remain and British citizenship, while also providing QED with an opportunity to generate income to reinvest in its charitable activities.
Leeds College of Building Partnership
QED held discussions with the Chief Executive of Leeds College of Building to explore potential partnership opportunities.
QED remains concerned about the underrepresentation of young people from ethnic minority communities in vocational education and training. Such programmes can provide important pathways into skilled employment and self-employment. QED will continue to explore partnerships that can help address these inequalities and widen access to vocational opportunities.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities
During the year, work continued on Turning Challenges into Opportunities, my book documenting the journey of establishing and developing QED Foundation.
The publication is intended to share lessons and experiences from QED’s development and to inspire younger generations to establish initiatives that address community needs and create positive social change. Publication is planned to coincide with the author’s 70th birthday in August 2026.
Fundraising and Sustainability
Fundraising continued to be a significant priority throughout the year. QED submitted funding applications and continued to identify opportunities to secure resources for existing and future charitable programmes.
The funding environment remains increasingly challenging, particularly for organisations undertaking specialist work with disadvantaged and ethnically diverse communities. QED will therefore continue to pursue grant funding while developing partnerships and diversifying its income through training, room hire and other appropriate earned-income activities.
Despite these challenges, QED remains committed to its core purpose of addressing disadvantage, widening opportunity and helping individuals and communities fulfil their potential.
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of QED Foundation Ltd (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2026.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
QED Foundation Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Quest House, 38 Vicar Lane, Bradford, BD1 5LD.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a statement of cash flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
Raising funds
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The long-term loans are secured by fixed charges over 5 years.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2025 - none).