Trustees' Annual Report for the period
Period start date Period end date 1 July 2024 30 June 2025
From
To
Section A Reference and administration details
Charity name Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1199954
Apna Heritage
Charity's principal address 540 Manchester Road
Bradford
Postcode BD5 7LR
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
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Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
year to appoint trustee (if any)
1 Awais Hussain
Mohammed
2
Arshad
3 Arslaan Mahmood
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
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Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name Dates acted if not for whole year
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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Constitution
Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Trustees are appointed by existing trustees. Trustee selection methods
(eg. appointed by, elected by)
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
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policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
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the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
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relationship with any related parties;
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
Apna Heritage is a volunteer-led organisation governed by a board of trustees who meet regularly to oversee the charity’s strategic direction, financial management, and delivery of its charitable objectives. During this reporting period, the trustees continued to maintain strong governance practices, including regular meetings, clear delegation of responsibilities, and open communication across the organisation. Activities such as archive development, oral history collection, and community engagement are led by volunteers under trustee oversight. The trustees actively monitor risks, particularly in relation to data protection, safeguarding of community-contributed materials, and financial management. Appropriate systems and procedures are in place to mitigate these risks.
During the year, the charity also strengthened its external engagement through participation in heritage sector development programmes, enabling improved governance, skills development, and partnership working.
Section C Objectives and activities
Apna Heritage exists to promote and advance public education on the arts, culture, and heritage of communities originating from the Mirpur region, Pothohar Plateau, Jammu & Kashmir, and northern Pakistan. Summary of the objects of the This includes the research, preservation, and celebration of language, charity set out in its literature, customs, genealogy, and historical experiences, particularly in governing document the context of migration to the UK and the wider diaspora. The charity achieves these aims through:
Promotion: Raising awareness of cultural heritage and contributions
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| Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit) |
Education: Collecting, preserving, digitising, and sharing heritage materials Community Engagement: Facilitating intergenerational dialogue and learning These objectives are delivered with a commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and public benefit. |
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| This year, Apna Heritage delivered a range of activities aligned with its charitable objectives. 1. Continued Delivery of Apna Bradford Project The charity continued delivery of its flagship project, Apna Bradford, focusing on collecting oral histories, digitising family archives, and documenting the lived experiences of South Asian communities in Bradford. 2. Expansion of Digital Archive The charity expanded its digital archive through the collection and preservation of photographs, documents, and oral testimonies contributed by community members. This work ensures that underrepresented histories are preserved and accessible for future generations. 3. Website and Digital Infrastructure Development Further development of the charity’s website enabled improved organisation and accessibility of research materials, including sections on language, genealogy, literature, migration, and cultural traditions. 4. Participation in Bradford 2025 Heritage Skills Programme (Elevate Cohort) Apna Heritage was selected to take part in the Bradford 2025 Heritage Skills Programme (Elevate cohort). Through this programme, trustees and volunteers participated in workshops, training, and networking opportunities with other heritage organisations. This significantly strengthened the charity’s skills, knowledge, and organisational capacity. |
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
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You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
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policy on grantmaking;
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policy programme related investment;
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contribution made by volunteers.
Section D Achievements and performance
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Section D Achievements and performance
During this reporting period, Apna Heritage continued to grow as a Summary of the main community-led heritage organisation, delivering meaningful public benefit achievements of the charity through education, preservation, and engagement. during the year 1. Continued Development of Apna Bradford Project The project continued to capture valuable oral histories and community narratives, contributing to a growing body of knowledge about South Asian heritage in Bradford. 2. Growth of Digital Archive The charity made significant progress in building a structured digital archive, ensuring long-term preservation and public accessibility of heritage materials. 3. Strengthened Online Presence Enhancements to the charity’s website and digital platforms have improved accessibility and engagement, allowing wider audiences to benefit from its work. 4. Community Engagement and Participation The charity continued to engage community members across generations, fostering a sense of shared identity and encouraging contributions to heritage preservation. 5. Selection for Bradford 2025 Elevate Programme A key achievement this year was the charity’s selection into the Bradford 2025 Heritage Skills Programme (Elevate cohort). This recognition reflects the growing impact and credibility of Apna Heritage within the heritage sector. Participation has enhanced organisational capacity, governance, and partnership opportunities. Overall, the charity has continued to make meaningful progress in addressing the underrepresentation of its communities in mainstream heritage narratives while creating accessible and inclusive educational resources.
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Section E Financial review
Apna Heritage is a developing organisation and continues to refine its Brief statement of the approach to financial management. The charity aims to maintain charity’s policy on reserves sufficient reserves to cover essential costs and ensure continuity of operations. During this reporting period, reserves were intentionally utilised to support the delivery of charitable activities and project commitments. During the year, the charity’s expenditure exceeded its income. This reflects a planned and appropriate use of funds previously received through grant funding. The trustees drew down reserves from the prior year’s funding to enable Details of any funds materially continued delivery of the Apna Bradford project and related activities. in deficit This approach ensured that funds were used effectively for their intended charitable purposes. The trustees are satisfied that this does not represent financial concern but rather the normal delivery cycle of grant-funded work.
Further financial review details (Optional information)
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The charity’s primary source of income continues to be grant funding.
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You may choose to include During this reporting period, expenditure increased as the organisation
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additional information, where progressed into active delivery of its projects. Costs included oral history
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relevant about: work, digitisation, and website development.
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the charity’s principal As a result, the charity spent more than it received during the year, sources of funds (including drawing on funds carried forward from the previous period. any fundraising); All expenditure has been directly aligned with the charity’s objectives of
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how expenditure has education, heritage preservation, and public benefit. The trustees continue to monitor financial sustainability closely and are
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supported the key objectives actively seeking new funding opportunities to support future activities.
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of the charity;
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investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
Section F Other optional information
Apna Heritage aims to build on its progress by expanding its archive, increasing public engagement, and strengthening partnerships, especially with those organisations introduced through the Elevate Programme. Future priorities include:
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Securing new funding for further heritage projects
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Expanding the digital archive and research outputs
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Developing exhibitions, events, and educational resources
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Building partnerships with heritage organisations
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Engaging younger generations in heritage preservation
The charity will build on the skills, knowledge, and networks gained through the Bradford 2025 Heritage Skills Programme.
Section G Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Mohammed Arshad Signature(s) Awais Hussain Mohammed Arshad Full name(s) Awais Hussain
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Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair etc) Date 27 April 2026
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Charity Name No (if any)
Apna Heritage 1199954
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period Period start date Period end date
To
from 01-Jul-24 30-Jun-25
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donation 200 - - 200 -
Bradford City of Culture (Instalment 1) 150 - 150 -
Bradford City of Culture (Instalment 2) 150 - 150 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
AR) [ 200 ] 300 - 500 -
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 200 300 - 500 -
A3 Payments
Website Development 1,980 - - 1,980 -
Archival Research and Transcription 475 - - 475 -
Community Research 300 - - 300 -
Videography (Oral History) 600 - - 600 -
- - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total [ 3,355 ] - - 3,355 -
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments 3,355 - - 3,355 -
Net of receipts/(payments) - 3,155 300 - - 2,855 -
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 3,205 - - 3,205 -
Cash funds this year end 50 300 - 350 -
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
27/04/2026
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Mohammed Arshad Signature Awais Hussain Details Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - Agreement Error Agreement Error Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name AWAIS HUSSAIN MOHAMMED ARSHAD |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) Date of approval 27-Apr-26 27-Apr-26 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
27/04/2026
2