**W W W . Q A T R A H . C O . U K** ## **TRUSTEE REPORT** Q A T R A H 2 0 2 4 - 2 0 2 5 R e g i s t e r e d C h a r i t y N u m b e r : 1 2 0 0 8 9 7 ## **CONTENTS** _03_ A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON ## _04_ ABOUT THE CHARITY ## _08_ FINANCIALS ## _09_ PROGRAMMES ## _12_ OPERATIONS STRATEGY AND RISK STATEMENT _14_ TRUSTEE DECLARATION _Appendix A_ FINANCIAL REPORT W W W . Q A T R A H . C O . U K ## **A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON** This past year, Qatrah has continued its positive growth trajectory. We have been able to expand our courses and forms of support thanks to our generous donors who have stood beside us throughout every challenge. Their donations and commitment have enabled us to provide numerous lifelines to individuals and families in need. This year, we successfully ran many food distribution campaigns, delivering a selection of staples to hundreds of families across various provinces of Afghanistan. Our educational offering continues to grow with new courses in new locations as well as new scholarships and internships. Our tailoring programmes have seen hundreds of students graduate, while our nursing and paediatrics course has shown immense popularity. We also responded to the humanitarian crisis on the Iranian border which saw many Afghan migrants unjustly deported; our aid packages proved an important lifeline during a precarious time. Yet again, Qatrah has played a vital role in the lives of many across Afghanistan. Maryam Atai **MARYAM ATAI** CHAIRPERSON Q A T R A H P A G E 0 3 W W W . Q A T R A H . C O . U K ## **ABOUT THE CHARITY** Qatrah has three core programmes: poverty relief, disaster response, and education and skills development. Qatrah is a charitable organisation registered in England and Wales with the registered charity number 1200897. Qatrah aims to help individuals experiencing poverty or financial hardship in Afghanistan, as well as those who lack basic educational and preliminary healthcare support. It focuses particularly on women and children, regardless of their race, religion, or political preferences. Qatrah was founded in 2018 by Maryam Atai, a UK-based social and human rights activist. It has since grown from strength to strength, extending a lifeline to hundreds of families across Afghanistan and achieving significant positive impact. _"Thanks to Qatrah, my family are together and alive today. They were there in our hour of need"_ Women and children are the most vulnerable to poverty in Afghanistan. Having been through decades of war, terror, and economic crises, we must do our best to support them by any means we can. Your donations will help mothers to put food on the table, sick individuals to receive the healthcare they need, and the children of Afghanistan to go to school and experience the life of a child. Q A T R A H P A G E 0 4 W W W . Q A T R A H . C O . U K ## **MISSION** ## **VISION** To help support and empower those women and children in Afghanistan who are experiencing poverty, financial hardship, or inequality. One day, every child in Afghanistan will have the opportunity to go to school and every woman in Afghanistan will be able to live independently and feed her family. Q A T R A H P A G E 0 5 W W W . Q A T R A H . C O . U K ## **GOVERNANCE DETAILS** Qatrah is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) whose only voting members are its trustees. It follows a ‘Foundation’ model constitution and its principal office is in England at the following address: 3 Widgeon Close Southampton, SO16 8HW ## The objects of the CIO are: _The prevention or relief of poverty or financial hardship in Afghanistan, particularly amongst women and children, by the provision of food and essential items, financial support and access to healthcare and educational opportunities._ _To advance education and develop the capacity and skills of those of Afghanistani origin who are seeking asylum or have been granted refugee status (and their dependents) in the United Kingdom in such a way that they are better able to integrate into and participate more fully in British society._ The registered charity number for Qatrah is: 1200897 Qatrah presently has 3 trustees. The CIO may have a minimum of 3 trustees up to a maximum of 12. Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge, and experience needed for the effective administration for the CIO. A charity trustee may retire from office by giving written notice, or they may be removed if they are absent from all meetings in a six month period without the permission of charity trustees, if they die, if they are deemed incapable as acting as a trustee by a medical professional and the condition is expected to last more than three months, or if they are disqualified from acting as a trustee by virtue of sections 178-180 of the Charities Act 2011 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision). Q A T R A H P A G E 0 6 W W W . Q A T R A H . C O . U K ## **TRUSTEES** ## **Maryam Atai** Maryam Atai is a human rights activist based in Southampton, UK. She founded Qatrah in 2018, driven by a desire to help vulnerable women and children in Afghanistan. Prior to this, she spent many years organising community events in Southampton to educate and empower women in the local community. ## **Ellie Atayee-Bennett** Ellie Atayee-Bennett is a Lecturer in Sociology interested in sustainability, ethical lifestyles, culture, and religion. She joined Qatrah in 2022, keen to help the charity develop and grow for the betterment of women and children in Afghanistan. Ellie currently serves as the Charity Secretary. ## **Khatera Yekta** Khatera Yekta is a doctoral researcher in International Relations in the UK with a keen interest in gender studies, state building, and peace building in Afghanistan. Prior to this, she lectured at several Kabul universities and was a women’s rights activist in Afghanistan. She joined Qatrah in 2022, hoping to use her knowledge to improve the lives of vulnerable people. Q A T R A H P A G E 0 7 W W W . Q A T R A H . C O . U K ## **FINANCIALS 2024-2025 REPORT** ## **REVENUE** **----- Start of picture text -----**
||| |---|---| |Donations*|£38,769.32| |Grants|£0.00| |Total|£38,769.32| **----- End of picture text -----**
*We receive donations via our website, PayPal, and bank transfer. Our donors belong predominantly to the Afghanistani diaspora. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Donations
100%
**----- End of picture text -----**
Programme costs include the aid being distributed (e.g. food packages, aid packages, etc), staff salaries, educational and sewing materials, rent, and other relevant costs. ## **EXPENDITURE** **----- Start of picture text -----**
|||| |---|---|---| |salaries, educational and sewing materials, rent,| |Poverty Relief|and other relevant costs.| |£17,437.50| |Admin & Misc. costs include website running costs,| |Programme Costs| |accounting, marketing materials, and other| |relevant costs.| |Disaster Response| |£4,397.00|Admin & Misc| |Programme Costs|3.6%| |Education & Skills| |Development|£15,634.20|Education| |40.2%| |Programme Costs| |Poverty Relief| |Admin & Misc.|£1,397.26|44.9%| |Total|£38,865.96| |Disaster Response| |11.3%| **----- End of picture text -----**
Q A T R A H P A G E 0 8 W W W . Q A T R A H . C O . U K ## **PROGRAMMES** ## **1. POVERTY RELIEF** The economic situation is critical in Afghanistan at present with lots of families living in poverty. Many cannot afford basic living provisions, such as food and healthcare, but these difficulties are even more stark for certain groups of people, such as widowed women with children, disabled individuals, and those living with serious health conditions. Qatrah runs campaigns throughout the year and then distributes provisions to identified and approved beneficiaries. Turn to page 12 for our operations strategy. Qatrah runs food distribution programmes throughout the year (over 10 per year), and in each campaign, we help 50-100 families. Each family receives a selection of staple foods, such as rice, oil, flour, and pulses. This year we also distributed meat parcels during Eid al Adha. Qatrah also provides poverty relief in other ways, on a case-by-case basis. We have supported individuals with the costs of emergency healthcare, as well as support towards rent and housing costs. Q A T R A H P A G E 0 9 W W W . Q A T R A H . C O . U K ## **2. EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT** Since the Taliban assumed power of Afghanistan in 2021, educational and occupational opportunities have been severely restricted for women and girls. In such a situation, their mental health, and in turn hope for the future, have plummeted. Over the past couple of years, Qatrah has invested lots into building its educational offerings. This has supported girls with their learning, all the while boosting their mental wellbeing and self-esteem. Access to education is not only important for the development of society, but it is also important for the alleviation of poverty. Qatrah has long run sewing and tailoring classes to promote female empowerment and skills development. These classes are hugely popular and have enabled girls to acquire the skills necessary to financially support themselves and their families. This year saw courses in new locations, as well as hundreds of students graduating. Qatrah also offers nursing and midwifery courses, designed to improve women’s employment and healthcare opportunities. This year, Qatrah was successfully able to offer internships and scholarships, enhancing the value of these courses. Q A T R A H P A G E 1 0 W W W . Q A T R A H . C O . U K ## **3. DISASTER RESPONSE** Unfortunately, Afghanistan is vulnerable to numerous types of disasters, from natural disasters such as flooding, to humancaused disasters such as terrorist attacks. These disasters could occur at any time and without warning, causing immense disruption and pain to people’s lives. Qatrah prides itself on its quick response times, helping victims at such critical times in unique and personal ways. The main humanitarian crisis this year was the deporting of Afghan migrants from Iran. Many families were left in precarity on the Iranian border near Herat. Qatrah responded swiftly and provided essential aid and support to the refugees. The 2025 deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran was a state-led mass expulsion. It is believed over half a million Afghans were deported in a 16-day period, causing intense pressure on the border and plunging hundreds of families into difficulty. Moreover, the expulsion occurred in July, a month of unbearable heat, meaning the refugees had no relief. Qatrah’s survey team travelled to the Herat border where camps had been set up to support the refugees. Our campaigns enabled us to produce and distribute aid packages containing vital health and hygiene supplies, as well as financial aid to prevent suffering and homelessness. Q A T R A H P A G E 1 1 W W W . Q A T R A H . C O . U K ## **OPERATIONS STRATEGY** We have two teams, our operations team which works on the ground in Afghanistan, and our management team which is based predominantly in the UK. Our teams work closely together to maximise the benefits to the lives of our beneficiaries. We find our beneficiaries through referrals, either by the individuals and families themselves who reach out to us on social media, or from others who are concerned about someone and nominate them for help. Our management team then compiles a list of potential beneficiaries which is sent to our operations team in Afghanistan. The operations team then surveys the families through a rigorous process which involves visiting the families, assessing the home environment, conducting background and ID checks, interviewing them on a whole host of topics including house ownership, their financial situation, their family situation, their health, and their difficulties, and finally obtaining references from trusted members of the community. The survey team then compiles a report based on this assessment, which is sent to the management team for review. Those that are deemed most in need get priority. Following review of the assessment reports, the management team, who manages fundraising and finance, confirms the grant allocations and transfers the required amount to our representatives in Afghanistan, who then distribute the provisions to the awarded beneficiaries. _“Qatrah were quick to respond to my call for help. I am eternally grateful to them for supporting my family.”_ Our activity is now expanding beyond Kabul into other provinces, enabling us to help needy individuals across Afghanistan. Indeed, we have successfully helped individuals in a range of provinces and rural areas. Our busiest time of year is around Ramadan when we receive lots of donations and are therefore able to distribute more provisions and help a greater number of families. We do however respond to calls for help at all times in the year. The economic situation is critical in Afghanistan at present with lots of families living in poverty. Many cannot afford basic living provisions, such as food and healthcare, but these difficulties are even more stark for certain groups of people, such as widowed women with children, disabled individuals, and those living with serious health conditions. It is these individuals whom Qatrah works so hard to support. Q A T R A H P A G E 1 2 W W W . Q A T R A H . C O . U K ## **RISK STATEMENT** The trustees have conducted a comprehensive risk framework to ensure the successful and compliant conduct of charitable activities at all times. The trustees acknowledge responsibility for reviewing and mitigating the risks faced by the charity and they are committed to continuous improvement to ensure Qatrah remains a reputable and valuable charity in the community. The risk identification process involved consulting all members of our team and obtaining feedback on all areas of Qatrah’s work. This helped us to identify risks, as well as assess their likelihood and impact. With this information, the trustees compiled an evaluation report and identified key mitigation strategies and monitoring procedures for reducing the impact of each risk. The main risk facing Qatrah is Afghanistan’s turbulent economic and political environment, but where this has long been part of our team’s daily realities, we consider ourselves to have a strong understanding of Afghanistan’s culture, economy, and political environment, and thus resilient and adaptive should circumstances change. We have also compiled an extensive operations strategy that allows for fluctuations in the economic and political environment, all the while maximising the benefits to and safety of our beneficiaries and staff. Another major risk facing Qatrah is regulation requirements, and indeed changing requirements, where we are growing quickly. The trustees are committed to reviewing and learning the regulatory requirements, as well as conducting regular training needs analyses in line with the growth of the organisation and changing regulatory requirements. With our operations and training strategies in place, we are confident that we have reduced to the impact of these major risks to a medium level. Other medium level risks include keeping abreast of changing government policy, as well as loss of key trustees, staff members, or volunteers. By incorporating regular review procedures and training needs analyses into our work, we can ensure trustees and staff members have the knowledge they need to conduct Qatrah’s work in a beneficial, compliant way, as well as foster a better working environment, thereby avoiding any staff or trustee retention issues. As part of the risk identification and evaluation process, we have introduced a number of strategies and control systems to minimise risk and provide better direction to the organisation. In addition to quarterly reviews on the topics of strategy, operations, finance, and HR, we have compiled strategies for governance, operations, money management, training needs, and recruitment, all of which will be reviewed at least every six months. Q A T R A H P A G E 1 3 W W W . Q A T R A H . C O . U K ## **TRUSTEE DECLARATION** The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees: Ellie Atayee-Bennett Charity Secretary 1 September 2026 Q A T R A H P A G E 1 4 ## Thank you for your support ## Qatrah 3 Widgeon Close, Southampton, SO16 8HW Registered Charity Number: 1200897 Charity registration number: 1200897 **QATRAH TRUSTEE'S REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 2 NOVEMBER 2025** ## **QATRAH Contents** ||**Page**| |---|---| |Trustee's Report|1—2| |Independent Examiner's Report|3| |Statement of Financial Activities|4| |Statement of Financial Position|5| |Notes to the Financial Statements|6—7| |The following pages do not form part of the statutory accounts:|| |Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|8| ## **QATRAH Trustee's Report For The Year Ended 2 November 2025** The trustee presents her report and the financial statements for the year ended 2 November 2025. ## **Objectives and Activities** ## **Aims and Objectives** All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount receivable can be measured reliably. Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified of the amount and settlement date. Where donations are subject to conditions that must be satisfied before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred until those conditions have been met. ## **Public Benefit** The trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims, objectives and activities. The charity provides public benefit through the prevention and relief of poverty and financial hardship, particularly amongst women and children in Afghanistan, by providing food, essential items, financial support, healthcare and educational opportunities. The charity also advances education and develops the skills and capacity of people of Afghanistani origin seeking asylum or granted refugee status in the United Kingdom. The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. ## **Reference and Administrative Details** ## **Trustee** Miss Ellie Atayee-Bennett - Charity Secretary ## **Charity Number** 1200897 ## **Independent Examiner** Kamal Miah ACCOUNTABLEUK 31 BASSETT CRESCENT EAST BASSETT SOUTHAMPTON HAMPSHIRE SO16 7PD Page 1 ## **QATRAH Trustee's Report (continued) For The Year Ended 2 November 2025** The trustee's report was approved by the board of trustees and signed on its behalf by: Miss Ellie Atayee-Bennett Trustee 02/09/2026 Page 2 ## **QATRAH Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of QATRAH For The Year Ended 2 November 2025** I report to the trustee on my examination of the accounts of QATRAH (the Trust) for the year ended 2 November 2025. ## **Responsibilities and Basis of Report** As the charity trustee of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## **Independent Examiner's Statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and contents of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Kamal Miah 02/09/2026 31 BASSETT CRESCENT EAST BASSETT SOUTHAMPTON HAMPSHIRE SO16 7PD Page 3 ## **QATRAH Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 2 November 2025** |**Notes**
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
Donations and legacies
**3**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Raising funds
**4**
**NET EXPENDITURE**
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:**
Total funds brought forward
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
**8**|**2025**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
38,769| |---|---| ||(38,866)| ||(97)| ||(97)
-| ||(97)| The notes on pages 6 to 7 form part of these financial statements. Page 4 ## **QATRAH Statement of Financial Position As At 2 November 2025** |**Notes**
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year**
**7**
**NET CURRENT ASSETS (LIABILITIES)**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
**NET LIABILITIES**
**FUNDS OF THE CHARITY**
Unrestricted Funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**8**
On behalf of the board
Miss Ellie Atayee-Bennett
Trustee
02/09/2026|**2025**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
619| |---|---| ||619
(716)| ||(97)| ||(97)| ||(97)| ||(97)| ||(97)| ||| The notes on pages 6 to 7 form part of these financial statements. Page 5 ## **QATRAH Notes to the Financial Statements For The Year Ended 2 November 2025** ## 1. **General Information** QATRAH is a charitable incorporated organisation registered with the Charity Commission, registered charity number 1200897. The principal address is . ## 2. **Accounting Policies** ## 2.1. **Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements** The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)", Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities Act 2011. The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102. ## 2.2. **Incoming Resources** All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount receivable can be measured reliably. Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified of the amount and settlement date. Where donations are subject to conditions that must be satisfied before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred until those conditions have been met. ## 2.3. **Resources Expended** Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. Expenses, including support costs and governance costs, are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings. ## 2.4. **Cash and Cash Equivalents** Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and are readily convertible to a known amount of cash with insignificant risk of change in value, and bank overdrafts. ## 3. **Income from Donations and Legacies** |Donations and gifts
.
**Analysis of Expenditure**
**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**Support**
**costs**
(see note 5)
**£**
**£**
Raising funds
37,469
1,397|**2025**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
38,769| |---|---| ||**2025**
**Total**
**£**
38,866| ## 4. **Analysis of Expenditure** Page 6 ## **QATRAH Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 2 November 2025** ## 5. **Support Costs** |.
**Support Costs**|| |---|---| |Premises expenses
General administration
.
**Average Number of Employees**
verage number of employees during the year was: NIL
.
**Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year**
Trade creditors
Bank loans and overdrafts
Accruals and deferred income|**2025**
**Raising**
**funds**
**£**
260
1,137| ||1,397| ||**2025**
**£**
1
475
240| ||716| ## 6. **Average Number of Employees** Average number of employees during the year was: NIL 7. **Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year** ## 8. **Movement in Funds** |**Unrestricted funds**
General:
General unrestricted fund
**Total funds**|**As at 3**
**November**
**2024**
**£**
-|**Income**
**£**
38,769|**Expenditure**
**£**
(38,866)|**As at 2**
**November**
**2025**
**£**
(97)| |---|---|---|---|---| ||-|38,769|(38,866)|(97)| ## 9. **Transactions with Trustees** During the year the expenses reimbursed to the trustees or paid directly to third parties were as follows: **2025 £** ## 10. **Related Party Disclosures** Page 7 ## **QATRAH Detailed Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 2 November 2025** |**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations and gifts
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
**Raising funds**
Other direct costs
Rent
Computer and IT consumables
Accountancy fees
Subscriptions
Bank charges
**NET EXPENDITURE**|**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
38,769| |---|---| ||38,769| ||38,769
(37,469)
(260)
(205)
(840)
(84)
(8)| ||(38,866)| ||(38,866)| ||(97)| Page 8