International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise
Charity number 1183805
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ report | 2-4 |
| Receipts and payments account | 5 |
| Statement of assets and liabilities | 6 |
| Notes to the accounts | 7 |
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International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise Trustees’ report for the year ended 31 December 2024
Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were:
Name Position Toni Williams President Aspasia Dania Secretary Daniel Martin Treasurer
Advisors as part of the executive board during the financial year were:
Name Position Bonnie Pang Membership Officer Ella McLoughlin Communications Officer Francesca Cavallerio Conference Officer Bryan Clift Election Officer
Charity number
The charity was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, number 1183805 on 10[th] June 2019.
Principal address Bankers 23 Bishopton Place Lloyds Bank RIPON 15 Blackheath Village North Yorkshire Blackheath HG4 2DT London SE3 9LH
Structure, governance and management
The charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) is governed by a constitution adopted on 6[th] June 2019.
Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees
The current trustees of the charity were founding members.
Objectives and activities
The charity’s objectives
The objectives of the International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (QRSEsoc) are to advance the education of the public in general (and particularly amongst academics) in the social science aspects of sport, exercise and physical activity and to promote research for the public benefit in all aspects of these subjects and to publish the useful results thereof.
QRSEsoc was established to provide both an international home solely dedicated to qualitative research and a forum that brings together researchers from different disciplines. It is open to all methods, methodologies, traditions, epistemologies, ontologies, and empirical work that fall under the umbrella of qualitative research. QRSEsoc is also multidisciplinary by bringing together researchers interested in qualitative research from the disciplines of sport and exercise psychology, sociology of
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sport, sport coaching, sport pedagogy, leisure studies, sport management, sport policy, sport and exercise medicine, and others. We strive to:
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Promote qualitative research in the sport and exercise sciences
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Advance excellence in qualitative research and teaching
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Provide a forum for networking, knowledge sharing, collaboration, lobbying, and fostering supportive relationships and communities
The charity’s main activities
QRSEsoc provides education and training through a biennial conference, workshops, webinars and podcasts. Members have access to additional benefits including education resources, PhD theses and an expert directory to facilitate collaboration and sharing of knowledge through our website (www.qrsesoc.com). They also have access to book chapters written by members and virtual topic focused meetings. Members are also working with the public to produce expert position statements that will support best practice. This includes an expert statement on the possibilities of making qualitative research data ethically open to the public. We also provide expert advice to the individual public, organisations, and charities, such as Disability Rights UK.
Public benefit statement
In setting out objectives and planning of our activities, our Trustees have given consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and regarding advancing education and training.
Achievements and performance
Since its launch on 6th December 2019, the International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (QRSEsoc) has continued to grow in reach and influence. In 2024, our global community expanded across 19 countries, demonstrating a strong and sustained interest in our mission.
The year was marked by a strategic focus on delivering high-value activities for our members and the wider academic community. The cornerstone of our annual calendar was the 9th International Conference of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (QRSE2024). Held from 30th July to 1st August 2024 at the University of Bath, the event was expertly co-chaired by Dr Bonnie Pang (University of Bath) and Dr Bryan Clift (North Carolina State University). The conference was a resounding success, attracting over 180 attendees—including students, early career researchers, established professors, and practitioners—who presented their latest work through symposia, oral presentations, and posters. This key event fostered significant collaboration and advanced knowledge in the field, and the investment in its success, as noted in our financial review, was a primary strategic objective for the year.
Alongside our main conference, we successfully ran a key Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiative. This programme was designed to remove financial barriers and promote wider participation in our conference. Through this initiative, we provided funding to individuals who may have otherwise been unable to attend, covering their conference fees, accommodation, and society membership. The positive reception to this support underscores our commitment to fostering a more inclusive, accessible, and representative academic community.
Overall, 2024 was a year of consolidation and impactful delivery. We invested in key infrastructure like our website and delivered high-quality, mission-focused events that have strengthened the society and positioned us for future growth.
Financial review
These accounts are for the period 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024.
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1. Financial Performance Overview
During the 2024 financial year, QRSEsoc recorded a small net deficit of £232.28, compared to a significant surplus of £6,988 in the previous year (2023).
This change is a direct result of the charity's planned strategic investments. Expenditure increased this year due to costs associated with the QRSE Conference and EDI Conference Grant. This demonstrates a year of investment into our main objectives, supporting our impact.
2. Financial Position at Year-End
Total incoming receipts for the period were £9,249.24 (2023: £8,063). Total resources expended were £9,481.52 (2023: £1,075).
The charity began the year with £46,827.40 and, after accounting for the small operational deficit, carried forward a final cash balance of £46,595.12 at the year-end (2023: £46,828). These funds are broken down as follows:
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Designated funds: £10,000 was designated for specific activities, including the QRSE conference and the QRSE EDI Conference Grant, directly supporting the charities main objectives.
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Unrestricted funds (General Reserves): £45,253.60. These funds are available to support the charity's core operational costs.
3. Reserves Policy
The trustees have reviewed the charity's level of unrestricted reserves, which stand at a healthy £45,253.60. The board considers this level to be more than sufficient for the current phase of the charity’s operations, providing excellent financial stability. This secure position allows the charity to confidently plan for future activities and manage operational needs without financial risk.
4. Future Financial Outlook
The Board remains confident in the charity’s strong financial position and strategic direction. The planned investments made in 2024 have strengthened our operational capacity. For the year ahead, our priority is to leverage this foundation to expand our charitable activities and to continue to manage our resources effectively to maximise our impact.
Signed on behalf of the board of trustees:
Signed: Name: Toni Williams (President) Date: 14/10/2025
Signed: Name: Daniel Martin (Treasurer) Date: 14/10/2025
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International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise Receipts and payments account for the year ended 31 December 2024
| Notes Receipts Paypal membership Paypal refund fee QRSE Conference Donation WIX membership Total receipts Payments Paypal fees Paypal refund Website development fee Website fee QRSE Conference QRSE EDI Grant WIX fee Total payments Net receipts / (payments) Cash fund balances brought forward Cash fund balances carried forward (2) |
2024 Unrestricted Funds £ 2024 Designated Funds £ 2024 Total Funds £ 2023 Total Funds £ 6,869.24 - 6,869.24 7935 - - - 23 - 250.00 250.00 - 2,130.00 - 2,130.00 105 |
|---|---|
| 8,999.24 250.00 9,249.24 8063 |
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| 192.10 - 192.10 242 79.24 - - - 79.24 - 205 395 242.4 - 242.4 230 - - 59.30 684.48 8,224.00 - 684.48 8,224.00 59.30 - - 3 |
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| 573.04 8,908.48 9,481.52 1075 |
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| 8,426.20 -8,658.48 -232.28 6988 |
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| 36,827.40 10,000 46,827.40 39840 |
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| 45,253.60 1,341.52 46,595.12 46828 |
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International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise
Statements of assets and liabilities as at 31 December 2024
| Cash funds Current account Paypal WIX Total cash funds |
2024 Unrestricted £ 2024 Restricted £ 2024 Designated £ 2024 Total £ 2023 Total £ 35,557.32 - 10000 45,557.32 46226 999.24 38.56 - - - - 999.24 38.56 563 39 |
|---|---|
| 36595.12 - 10000 46595.12 46828 |
There are no other monetary assets or liabilities.
Approval of the accounts
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees
Signed: Name: Toni Williams (President) Date: 14/10/2025
Signed: Name: Daniel Martin (Treasurer) Date: 14/10/2025
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International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise
Notes to the accounts as at 31 December 2024
1 Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
The trustees have taken advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payment basis.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds that the trustees have decided to set aside for a specific future purpose or project. Unlike restricted funds, this is an internal decision by the board and the designation can be changed or reversed by the trustees if the charity's plans change. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of designated funds is included in the notes to accounts below.
2 Designated funds
Fund name and purpose
QRSE conference fund: The QRSE conference fund is a designated budget used to support the conference every two years and is topped back up to £10,000 following conference expenditures. This fund will be used to support QRSE2026 next year.
In 2024 we spent £8224 on the EDI Conference Grant and £684.48 on the ECR Conference Award and Distinguished Scholar Award.
3 Trustee expenses
No trustee received any expenses during this year.
4 Related party transactions
There were no related party transactions during this year.
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