The Queen's Commonwealth Trust

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.

The Queen's Commonwealth Trust
FormationApril 2018
Registration no.1172107
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Websitehttp://www.queenscommonwealthtrust.org

History and mission

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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

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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
Organisation Founder(s) Country
Justice Defenders (formerly African Prisons Project) Alexander Mclean Uganda/Kenya
The Justice Desk Jessica Dewhurst South Africa
GirlDreamer Amna Akhtar and Kiran Kaur United Kingdom
Eco Brixs Andy Bownds and Gee Elliott Uganda
Uganda Marathon Henry Blanchard Uganda
Unloc / Acts of Gratitude Hayden Taylor and Ben Dowling (Unloc) / Jean D’Amour Mutoni (AoG) Rwanda
Hope for Children Cameroon Joannes Yimbesalu Cameroon
Nature Fun Ranch Corey Lane Barbados
iDebate Jean Michel Rwanda
Kisoboka Stephen Katende Uganda
MAYEIN Edem Ossai Nigeria
Boundless Minds Benjamin Rukwengye Uganda
Planet Green Africa Mwayi Kampesi and Atu Kampesi Malawi
RBA Initiative Erick Venant Tanzania
OneDay Health Nicolas Laing Uganda
WISE Caroline Odera Kenya
IYAN Daniel Misaki Uganda
Ukani Malawi Temwa Chirembo and Modester Mangilani Malawi

2019 OYW Partnership

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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
Name Country
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

References

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  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. ^ a b 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.
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