QE2 Activity Centre TRUSTEES REPORT
The Trustees are pleased to present their report, together with the financial statement of the Charity for the year ending 31 March 2025
Reference and Administrative details
Charity number
1165893
Principal Office
QE2 Activity Centre, River Hamble Country Park, Pylands Lane, Hedge End, Southampton. SO31 1BH
Bankers
Barclays Bank Plc, Fareham
Trustees
Jerry Hall, Wayne Irish, Derek Pretty
Management Committee
Derek Pretty, Jim Motherwell, John Prebble, Wayne Irish, Jen Pearce, Russell Poore, Jerry Hall, Janine Stone
Type of Governing Document
Constitution
How the Charity is Constituted
Trust
Trustee Selection Method
Appointment by Management Committee
Summary of Objects of the Charity
To advance education and to provide facilities for the recreation or other leisure time occupation of people with physical and/or mental disabilities in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving their conditions of life.
Events
2025 has been another strong year in both Day Service and Activities. Under the new management, we have maintained a calm business while investing in improvements on the Day Service buildings and building a new round house for Activities. We have increased our staff training to meet increased demand.
2026 looks to be an equally exciting year with new challenges and opportunities as QE2 Activity Centre continues to provide day services and activities to young people and adults with physical or learning disabilities.
Finance
During 2024-25 QE2 Activity Centre generated income from provision of services for people with additional needs.
Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees
Signature:
Full Name: Derek Pretty
Position: Chairman
Date: 25[th] November 2025
qei activity centre 2025 Impact Statement ••
Overview
2025 has been an exciting and transformative year for the QE2 Activity Centre’s Day service. The service has continued to grow, adapt and thrive - offering meaningful opportunities, new activities, and vital support for adults and young people with disabilities across Southampton and Hampshire.
Growth and participation
Day service has increased its capacity to offer 9,360 places a year, an increase of 500 places from last year. With 8,008 places already filled, the service is almost at a full capacity and continues to operate with waiting lists for certain days.
More than 76 adults with disabilities now attend our Day service each week, an increase on previous years, reflecting both the growing demand for inclusive service and the positive impact the Centre continues to build.
Skills, Activities, and Opportunities
At the heart of QE2’s Day Service is a rich programme designed to promote independence, confidence, and wellbeing. Participants develop valuable work and life skills through activities such as:
Gardening, fire making, upcycling, woodwork, and painting
Maintenance, cleaning, shopping, litter picking, and travel training
Cooking, baking, jam making, fruit picking, and window cleaning
Alongside skill development, we offer a diverse range of recreational and wellbeing activities, ensuring there is truly something for everyone. These include:
Archery, bushcraft, walking, and visits to the gym
Ukulele and music sessions, football, sensory sessions, and zipwire adventures
Camera Club, arts and crafts, motorboating, and bird watching
Activities
In 2025, we expanded our Activity sessions for children and adults with additional needs. The popularity of these sessions continues to grow, with school group participation increasing to ten per week, including pupils from local mainstream schools’ SEN provisions.
Developments / Community
This year has seen significant investment and community engagement across the Centre. Fundraising efforts, such as The Big Foot Ride Out, supported the construction of a Round House for our bushcraft area—allowing year-round outdoor activities.
Our A-frame cabins are now in daily use, providing warm, accessible spaces throughout the winter months. We’ve continued to make excellent use of our site’s facilities:
Beaulieu cabin – provides an educational space, used by Hampshire during term time
Test cabin – a workshop and garden equipment store
Itchen cabin – a training flat, supporting independent living skills
Hamble cabin – a music and wellbeing hub
Meon cabin – provides an IT suite, photography group base, and breakout area
We’ve also invested in staff training, enabling team members to lead more sessions in archery, photography, wellbeing, and communication skills—broadening what we can offer every day.
Thanks to volunteers from HSBC and Aviva Health, the Centre’s main building has been repainted, the grounds cleared, and the greenhouse and raised beds refreshed. The Centre is looking brighter than ever and ready to welcome even more visitors.
Following on from the work in 2024, we have focused our attention on the Centre and its upkeep. We have improved the centre decor.
We have also made the allotment more accessible and a new bush craft area begins with the start of the round house.
So now the Centre is looking great.
Events
2025 has been full of memorable events that brought our community together: Summer Showcase – featuring Blue Apple, our Ukulele Band, stalls, food, and live music from the Ocean Brass Band. Fundraising Events – including our Paint and Sip night, Halloween Party, and participation in Tracy’s London Marathon fundraising efforts. Forthcoming Events – Wreath Making Workshop (4 December) and Christmas Showcase (6 December), featuring craft stalls, raffles, and entertainment.
There have been several Day Trips to destinations such as Birdworld and Marwell Zoo—allowing our Camera Club to practice their photography skills in the field. Additional highlights included our Macmillan Coffee Morning, participation in the Winchester Paralympics, and ongoing success of our Crafternoons group.
Looking ahead, fundraising events planned for early 2026 include: Bottomless Brunch for parents and carers, more Paint & Sip events, a Clothes Recycling Project, February Disco, and a March Fashion Show.
This year, QE2 Activity Centre has arranged four holidays. These included a sailing holiday on the Jolie Brise, a holiday at Forest Holidays, another holiday at Center Parcs and finally a holiday with Centre Parcs.
We held a Paint and Sip on the 10th October to raise money for the QE2 Activity Centre as part of Tracy's London Marathon place, which Committee member Russell Poore obtained for the QE2 Activity Centre. Other events that have been organised are a Halloween party on the Saturday 25th October with Day Service staff helping out.
We are hoping to continue theses events in following years
As we move into 2026, QE2 Activity Centre is committed to continuing its growth, innovation, and dedication to supporting people with learning and physical disabilities. With new developments on the horizon, a growing team, and a thriving community, the future looks bright.
Finance
During 2024-25 QE2 Activity Centre generated income from provision of services for people with additional needs.
Full details are provided in our Report & Financial Statement for the year ending 31st March 2025
| Income | £ | |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming resources | 706,986 | |
| Grants & donatons | 7,942 | |
| Investment income | 8,887 | |
| TOTAL | 723,815 | |
| Expenditure | £ | |
| Stafng costs | 426,837 | |
| Cost of providing charitable actvites | 217,716 | |
| Governance costs | 3,646 | |
| TOTAL | 648,199 | |
| Surplus of income over expenditure | 75,616 |
Acknowledgements
Our heartfelt thanks go to:
All QE2 staff for their hard work, dedication, and creativity
Volunteers and committee members for giving their time and energy
Local businesses for their donations and support
Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council, and Eastleigh Borough Council for their continued partnership
Parents, carers, and care workers for their constant support
And most importantly, thank you to every individual who has taken part in our Day Services, activities, and holidays this year.
Together, we continue to make a difference—building confidence, independence, and community for everyone who comes through our doors.
QE2 Activity Centre
River Hamble Country Park
Pylands Lane
Hedge end SO31 1BH
Registered charity no 1165893
Email ofce@qe2actvitycentre.co.uk Telephone 023 8040 4844
Website www.qe2activitycentre.co.uk
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