The Queen's Commonwealth Trust

Last updated

The Queen's Commonwealth Trust
FormationApril 2018
Registration no.1172107
Headquarters London, United Kingdom
Website http://www.queenscommonwealthtrust.org

The Queen's Commonwealth Trust (QCT) is a charity that supports youths aged 18-35 across the Commonwealth. [1] The charity's focus is on social entrepreneurs who have founded organisations to address problems in their communities. Queen Elizabeth II, the charity's patron, was succeeded by King Charles III.

Contents

History and mission

The Queen's Commonwealth Trust, also known as QCT, was launched on 21 April 2018 (the Queen's 92nd birthday) with her patronage and her grandson Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex as president. [2] After marriage, Harry's wife Meghan was appointed vice president later that year. The couple retained their positions until February 2021. [3] In May 2024, King Charles III became the charity's patron. [4]

The QCT seeks to elevate the work of young people in their efforts for change and to equalise their efforts with professional organisations. [5] The Trust operates as a network for young changemakers throughout the Commonwealth, to fund, connect, and platform discussions and projects on a local level. [6] Periodically, online QCT chat sessions are conducted and uploaded to YouTube for public viewing. [7]

In March 2019, The Queen's Trust gave QCT its final funds of £2,672,287 from a planned run-down. [8]

In 2021, model Naomi Campbell became a global ambassador for QCT. [9]

In the financial year 2020/2021, QCT paid nearly all of its income on staff costs, £787,314 of the £796,106 it raised. The staff costs of its five senior executives was £420,000. The charity put this down the difficulties of raising donations during the COVID-19 pandemic. [9] The charity operated at a large deficit during the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 financial years. [10]

Projects

QCT finds and funds youths who are making a difference in their local communities. Projects and organisations supported by the Trust revolve around the issues of poverty, climate change, lack of access to healthcare, education and unemployment.

QCT Funded Projects
OrganisationFounder(s)Country
Justice Defenders (formerly African Prisons Project)Alexander Mclean Uganda/Kenya
The Justice DeskJessica Dewhurst South Africa
GirlDreamerAmna Akhtar and Kiran Kaur United Kingdom
Eco BrixsAndy Bownds and Gee Elliott Uganda
Uganda MarathonHenry Blanchard Uganda
Unloc / Acts of GratitudeHayden Taylor and Ben Dowling (Unloc) / Jean D’Amour Mutoni (AoG) Rwanda
Hope for Children CameroonJoannes Yimbesalu Cameroon
Nature Fun RanchCorey Lane Barbados
iDebateJean Michel Rwanda
KisobokaStephen Katende Uganda
MAYEINEdem Ossai Nigeria
Boundless MindsBenjamin Rukwengye Uganda
Planet Green AfricaMwayi Kampesi and Atu Kampesi Malawi
RBA InitiativeErick Venant Tanzania
OneDay HealthNicolas Laing Uganda
WISECaroline Odera Kenya
IYANDaniel Misaki Uganda
Ukani MalawiTemwa Chirembo and Modester Mangilani Malawi

2019 OYW Partnership

In 2019, The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust partnered with One Young World (OYW) to offer QCT Scholarships to 53 leaders – one from every Commonwealth country – to attend the 2019 OYW Summit in London, UK from 22–25 October. [11] One Young World is a preeminent global forum for young adults who have demonstrated a commitment to affecting positive change. The organisation received over 5,000 applications, out of which 53 were selected. [12] The following list contains the 2019 QCTxOYW scholarship winners from the first cohort: [13]

2019 QCTxOYW Winners
NameCountry
Felix Richard Manyogote Tanzania
Glenn Marc Stein South Africa
Marie Jeva Anael Bodwell Seychelles
Siddhant Sarang India
Costase Ndayishimiye Rwanda
Kaene Disepo Botswana
Kaveto Tjatjara Namibia
Daniel Nyabadza Mozambique
Hopolang Mathaba Lesotho
Innocents Yeboah-Num Ghana
Jacqueline Mutumba Uganda
Melusi Simelane Eswatini
Muhammed Touray The Gambia
Matthew Lam Joar Kenya
Noriah Tadala Katungwe Malawi
Patu Ndango Fen Cameroon
Samantha Miyanda Zambia
Sandra Ajaja Nigeria
Sarvesh Lutchmun Mauritius
Yasmine Bilkis Ibrahim Sierra Leone
Adeline Ng Kai Wen Malaysia
Gulnahar Mahbub Monika Bangladesh
Hafiz Usama Tanveer Pakistan
Prabath Manaperuma Sri Lanka
Queenie Chong Brunei
Sebastian Hoe Wee Kiat Singapore
Amanda Scott Grenada
Benedict E.J Bryan Trinidad and Tobago
Christaneisha Soleyn Barbados
Dentrecia Blanchette Saint Kitts and Nevis
Eber Ravariere Dominica
Jasmine Duncan Saint Lucia
Jason Ricketts Jamaica
Jubilanté Cutting Guyana
Kirkland McIntosh Bahamas
Lance Copegog Canada
Lezli McCulloch Belize
Rickisha Terry Antigua & Barbuda
Ruth Stowe Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Seutatia-ia-Noue Samoa
Saia Mataele Tonga
Rinesh Sharma Fiji
Pania Newton New Zealand
Millicent Barty Solomon Islands
Megan Elaine Iha Papua New Guinea
Lisepa Paeniu Tuvalu
Lisa Rapley Australia
George Quadina Nauru
Cedric Paniel Vanuatu
Maria Kola Cyprus
Eman Borg Gozo/Malta
Alice Sparks United Kingdom

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex</span> Member of the British royal family (born 1984)

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is a member of the British royal family. As the younger son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales, he is fifth in the line of succession to the British throne.

The British royal family comprises King Charles III and his close relations. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member, although the Royal Household has issued different lists outlining who is a part of the royal family. Members often support the monarch in undertaking public engagements, and pursue charitable work and interests. Members of the royal family are regarded as British and world cultural icons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William, Prince of Wales</span> Heir apparent to the British throne (born 1982)

William, Prince of Wales, is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh</span> Member of the British royal family (born 1965)

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh is a member of the British royal family. She is married to Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, the youngest sibling of King Charles III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh</span> British prince (born 1964)

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh is a member of the British royal family. He is the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the youngest sibling of King Charles III. He was born 3rd in the line of succession to the British throne and is now 14th.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne, Princess Royal</span> British princess (born 1950)

Anne, Princess Royal is a member of the British royal family. She is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the only sister of King Charles III. Anne was born 3rd in the line of succession to the British throne and is now 17th, and has been, since 1987, Princess Royal, a title held for life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles III</span> King of the United Kingdom since 2022

Charles III is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Eugenie</span> British princess (born 1990)

Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank is a member of the British royal family. She is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York. She is a niece of King Charles III. At birth, she was 6th in the line of succession to the British throne and is now 11th. She is the younger sister of Princess Beatrice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Beatrice</span> British princess (born 1988)

Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi is a member of the British royal family. She is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York. She is a niece of King Charles III. Born fifth in line of succession to the British throne, she is now ninth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester</span> British prince (born 1944)

Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester is a member of the British royal family. He is the second son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, the youngest of the nine grandchildren of George V, nephew of Edward VIII and George VI, and first cousin of Elizabeth II. He is 31st in the line of succession to the British throne, and the highest person on the list who is not a descendant of George VI. At the time of his birth, he was 5th in line to the throne.

Carole Stone, CBE is a British author and freelance radio and television broadcaster. Stone spent 27 years at the BBC beginning as a newsroom secretary and eventually becoming the producer of Radio 4's flagship discussion programme Any Questions? In 2018, Stone established The Carole Stone Foundation to support her belief that connecting people, exchanging ideas and building friendships around the world is essential to help make a fairer society.

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is a charitable organization that was established in 1913, and has over 400 member institutions in over 40 countries across the Commonwealth. The ACU is the world's oldest international network of universities. Its mission is to promote and support excellence in higher education for the benefit of individuals and societies throughout the Commonwealth and beyond. It has a combined population of 3 billion, mainly under the age of 30, in Commonwealth countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Population Matters</span> UK-based charity

Population Matters, formerly known as the Optimum Population Trust, is a UK-based charity that addresses population size and its effects on environmental sustainability. It considers population growth as a major contributor to environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, resource depletion and climate change. The group promotes ethical, choice-based solutions through lobbying, campaigning and awareness-raising.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meghan, Duchess of Sussex</span> Member of the British royal family and former actress (born 1981)

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is an American member of the British royal family and a former actress. She is married to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, the younger son of King Charles III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Foundation</span> Independent United Kingdom-based charity

The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales is an independent United Kingdom-based charity which supports the non-profit work of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Their projects revolve around conservation, environmental issues, early childhood development, mental health, emergency services, and homelessness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle</span> 2018 British royal wedding

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held on Saturday 19 May 2018 in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. The groom is a member of the British royal family; the bride is American and previously worked as an actress, blogger, charity ambassador, and advocate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megxit</span> 2020 withdrawal of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from royal duties

On 8 January 2020, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, announced on Instagram their decision to "step back as 'senior' members" of the British royal family, split their time between the United Kingdom and North America, become financially independent, and only represent the monarchy on a reduced basis. The decision was dubbed Megxit, a portmanteau of the words "Meghan" and "exit" and a play on the term Brexit. The term was adopted globally on mainstream and social media, spawning various Internet memes and "Megxit" merchandising.

Markle Windsor Foundation was a proposed transitional name for Sussex Royal The Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a British charitable organisation intended to support the work of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after the couple left the Royal Foundation in June 2019 to carry out their own projects. Sussex Royal Foundation was renamed MWX Foundation on 5 August 2020 and dissolved the same day.

References

  1. "THE QUEEN'S COMMONWEALTH TRUST - Overview (free company information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  2. "Queen Elizabeth to celebrate 92nd birthday at concert party". Reuters. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  3. "Harry and Meghan not returning as working members of Royal Family". BBC. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  4. "His Majesty King Charles III announced as Patron of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust". The Queen's Commonwealth Trust. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  5. "About". The Queen's Commonwealth Trust. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  6. FOUSSIANES, Chloe (8 March 2019). "Meghan Markle Named Vice President of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust". Town & Country. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  7. "The Queen's Commonwealth Trust". YouTube. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  8. "Annual Report & Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2021" (pdf). The Queen's Commonwealth Trust. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  9. 1 2 Allen, Peter; Jon Ungoed-Thomas (19 February 2022). "Website of Queen's charity promotes Prince Harry's US coaching firm". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  10. "The Queen's Commonwealth Trust". Charity Commission. Charity no. 1172107. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  11. "Hello World: Digital Education". The Queen's Commonwealth Trust. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  12. "Queen's Commonwealth Trust Scholarship to send 53 young leaders to One Young World 2019 Summit | One Young World". www.oneyoungworld.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  13. "One Young World: Introducing QCT's 2019 cohort!". The Queen's Commonwealth Trust. Retrieved 30 May 2020.