New social enterprise marks 25 years of success for local charity
As funding for charities becomes ever harder to secure, one organisation in Bradford has taken the proactive step to launch a new business, with all profits going straight back into the charity.
Rakkaposhi is a coffee and dessert parlour located on Ebenezer Street, and was launched by the well-established charity, QED-uk, last week to mark 25 years of operations.
Working with disadvantaged communities across Bradford and internationally, the charity decided to open the modern cafe with the aim of improving funding for their community work.
Founder and chief executive of QED-uk, Mohammed Ali, and deputy chief executive, Adeeba Malik, were on hand for the official opening on Thursday 3rd December.
Ms Malik said: “In the world of charity, funding opportunities are becoming very rare as grants and contracts decrease and government funding becomes ever harder to obtain.
“We, like other charities, have now taken it upon ourselves to set up a social enterprise to raise funds for the charity ourselves.
“All the profits raised at Rakkaposhi will be given to QED to enable the continuation of the charity work.”
Such an approach to funding is a new venture for the QED-UK team who work with disadvantaged communities to try and improve their economic, social and disadvantaged positions
Ms Malik is confident that it can be a success with the backing of the public.
“Social enterprising is one option to tackle the funding crisis,” she added. “We are not putting all our eggs in one basket here but it is a venture we are fully behind.
“QED’s aims and objectives are to campaign for disadvantaged communities in Yorkshire and wider. This is one option and we hope it is something that will generate money for us to continue our campaigning work.”
The exciting menu at Rakkaposhi was developed by Nazia Ali and Nasir Haider, of QED Foundation’s business development team, and includes a number of sweet treats for visitors.
From their Liege waffles and Fuji dessert, to an array of exclusive teas and coffees, the menu is bound to delight and surprise diners, who can relax in the modern environment.
Open seven days a week from 7am to 10pm (with late midnight closing times of Thursdays and Fridays), the cafe is in a prime position located near The Broadway Shopping Centre and the Leisure Exchange.
