**PERSIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION**
## **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER : 1066546**
**Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements For The Year Ending 31 MAY 2024**
**Suite 9 West Africa House**
**Ashbourne Road**
**London W9 3QP**
**PERSIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION**
## **CONTENTS**
## FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MAY 2024
||**PAGE**|
|---|---|
|**Legal and Administrative Information**|**1**|
|**Report of the Trustees**|**2-3**|
|**Report of the Independent Examiner**|**4**|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|**5**|
|**Balance sheet**|**6**|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|**7-10**|
|**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**|**11**|
**1**
**PERSIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MAY 2024
## **Charity registration number**
1066546
## **Date of registration**
02 December 1997
## **Contact office**
5 Calico Row Plantation Wharf London SW11 3YH
## **Website**
www.persia.education
## **Trustees**
Ms Dori Dana - Haeri, UK (Vice - Chair) Ms Nazenin Ansari Moshiri, UK (Secretary) Dr Parviz Mina, France (Chair) Mr Kamran Hashemi, UK (Treasurer) Dr Ali Mohammad Seifpour Fatemi (France) Dr Nina Ansary (USA) Mr Mohamad Reza Ansari (France) Hossein Alexander Fatemi (Appointed: 19 April 2024)
## **Independent Examiner**
Reza Samii Chartered Accountant 5 Calico Row Plantation Wharf London SW11 3YH
## **Bankers**
HSBC Bank 90 Baker Street London W1U 6AX
**2**
# **PERSIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT**
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MAY 2024
## **1. STRUCTURE & GOVERNANCE**
## **Governing document:**
Declaration of Trust dated 28th July 1997 as amended by supplemental deed dated 25th November 1997.
## **Constitution of the charity:**
The Charity is constituted as a Trust.
## **Trustee selection methods:**
In 2016 Persia Educational Foundation (Persia) formed a working Board of Trustees. The founder and two trustees involved with Persia since its inception in 1997 developed a short list of nominees and began inviting them one by one to join the board. Upon review, consultation and acceptance of the nominees, the board expanded. As a result there are now 7 trustees from three different countries as shown on page 1.
In addition, Persia established a ‘Core Team’ composed of the Board Secretary, Treasurer and Vice-Chair, as well as its Executive Director (ED) who reside in London. The Core Team is directly involved with the management of the charity and its on-going projects and affairs.
## **2. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objects of the charity:**
To undertake projects promoting knowledge and training in education, especially among women and children, offer scholarships and collaborate with like-minded organisations focussed on education.
To advance and promote the cause of education in particular amongst students of Iranian descent in their final or penultimate year of their studies who may be in need of financial assistance to complete their courses and to make grants to individuals and institutions to finance educational research relating to Iran.
## **Main activities undertaken for the public benefit:**
Since the start of its systematic operation our last report issued in 2021, Persia has steadily maintained its growth and expansion. In addition to supporting Snowflake School, educational community events, and webinars, both live and through Persia’s YouTube channel, during the 2022-2023 academic year, Persia continued its educational webinars highlighting some of the most innovative and pioneering Iranian-descent individuals around the globe. With the end of lock downs and gradual resume of in-person events, resulting in a decrease in popularity of webinars, Persia returned to its regular calendar of activities. However, for more details on each of the above-mentioned webinars please see: https://www.persia.education/category/webinar/.
_**Trustees' report continued on page 3….**_
**3**
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MAY 2024
## **PERSIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (Continued…)**
## **Main activities undertaken for the public benefit (continued from previous page):**
From mid 2023 Persia began to organise an international short film festival involving students and young professional film makers, We Are One Iran, focussed on raising awareness and educational opportunities about Women Life Freedom movement. In November Persia Educational Foundation and Film Buzz Festival joined forces with established arts academic institution, The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, The Bridge and Tunnel, as well as The New School’s New University in Exile Consortium in NYC, and Diaspora Arts Connection in San Francisco to offer an international short film festival focussed on the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran. The festival highlighted the 16 Days of Activism, meaning 25 November to 10 December, designed to raise awareness on violence against women on a global scale. The 16 Days span across the international days marking Elimination of Violence Against Women and Human Rights Day. Through the lens of films created by or about Iranian women, the festival offered educational opportunities for their stories of resilience, challenge, and optimism.
The festival began with a hybrid launch hosted by the Courtauld Institute, and featuring a panel of experts, on 29 November in London, followed by online viewing of a selection of 100 short films between 29 November and 30 December. Our US launches took place on December 7 in New York and December 10 in San Francisco. The festival attracted a good deal of social media followers as well as media coverage by Manoto TV, Iran International TV, Voice of America and The Independent. This successful effort attracted more than 1200 submissions from 90 countries from among which 100 nominations in 10 categories were selected for viewing on line.
A panel of expert judges selected the winner and the results were announced during an IG live session with an emerging celebrity.
This effort attracted media attention and a large percentage of its audience were young students and professionals working in film and creative industries. To mark Human Rights Day, in December Persia hosted an educational webinar on the psychology of creativity. In association with the Conduit Club, on 4 April 2024, Persia concluded the festival by hosting an event to promote and thank the volunteer judges that assisted the festival.
Also in April, Persia appointed a new trustee to its board bringing the total number up to eight.
In other efforts, in October 2023 Persia began to support a series of monthly community gatherings offering educational and cultural activities for the Iranian descent population residing in London.
In April 2024 Persia began consultations around academic networking as well as planning an educational exhibition as a result of goods donated to the Foundation.
## **3. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Summary:**
In a short span of time the charity was able to:
- Deliver on its scholarships, webinars and short film festivals
- Expand its impact in the community through both in-person and online activities
- Maintain a healthy financial position through modest but organic growth
## **Policy on reserves:**
Unrestricted reserves are maintained at approximately £5,000 to enable the Charity to operate effectively and efficiently.
Total reserves at 31st May 2024 amounted to £82,583 (2023: £47,542).
This report was approved by the Trustees and signed on its behalf, by:
**Date: 18th November 2024**
**Ms Nazenin Ansari Moshiri ………………………………………………** Trustee
**4**
## **PERSIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION**
## **REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER**
## FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MAY 2024
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 May 2024 which are set out on pages 5 to 11.
## **RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER**
The Charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts (under section 145 of the 2011 Act);
- to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under
- section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with s130 of the 2011 Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Signed:**
**Dated: 18th November 2024**
**REZA SAMII, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT** Chartered Accountant and Registered Auditor
5 Calico Row Plantation Wharf London SW11 3YH
**5**
**PERSIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION**
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1066546
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MAY 2024
|**Notes**
**INCOME**
**2**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Charitable activities**
**3**
**Total expenditure**
**NET MOVEMENTS IN FUNDS - (Deficit) /**
**Surplus**
**Total funds brought forward**
**8**
**TOTAL INCOME**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|**Unrestricted Restricted**
**Total**
_Total_
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
_Funds_
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
_2023_
**£**
**£**
**£**
_£_
**25,709**
**100,100**
_125,809_
_43,745_
**25,709**
**100,100**
**125,809**
_43,745_
**19,586**
**71,181**
_90,767_
_38,625_
**19,586**
**71,181**
**90,767**
_38,625_
**6,122**
**28,919**
**35,041**
_5,120_
**32,754**
**14,788**
_47,542_
_42,422_
**38,876**
**43,707**
**82,583**
_47,542_|
|---|---|
_The Notes form part of these accounts_
**6**
## **PERSIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MAY 2024
|**Notes**
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
**6**
Cash at bank and in hand
**CREDITORS**
**7**
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
**NET ASSETS**
**FUNDS**
Unrestricted funds
**8**
Restricted funds
**8**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**8**
Amounts falling due within one year|**£**
**£**
**23,525**
**62,452**
**85,977**
**(3,394)**
**82,583**
**82,583**
**82,583**
**38,876**
**43,707**
**82,583**
**31-May-24**|_£_
_£_
_8,525_
_42,411_
_50,936_
_(3,394)_
_47,542_
_47,542_
_47,542_
_32,754_
_14,788_
_47,542_
_31-May-23_|_£_
_£_
_8,525_
_42,411_
_50,936_
_(3,394)_
_47,542_
_47,542_
_47,542_
_32,754_
_14,788_
_47,542_
_31-May-23_|
|---|---|---|---|
|||_50,936_
_(3,394)_||
|||||
||||_47,542_|
||||_47,542_|
||||_32,754_
_14,788_|
||||_47,542_|
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 18th November 2024 and signed on their behalf, by:
**Ms Nazenin Ansari Moshiri .................................................................................... Trustee Mr Kamran Hashemi ….................................................................................. Trustee CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1066546**
_The Notes form part of these accounts_
**7**
**PERSIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION**
**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MAY 2024
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES:**
## _**1.1) BASIS OF PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**_
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with Accounting Standards in the United Kingdom, the Financial Reporting Standard FRS 102, the Charities SORP FRS 102 and the Charities Act 2011.
Persia Educational Foundation meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost of transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
## _**1.2) FUND ACCOUNTING**_
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
## _**1.3) INCOME**_
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the receipt of the income tax refund from HMRC.
## _**1.4) EXPENDITURE**_
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation of activities. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular activities they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
Fundraising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities. Direct support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity. Management and administration costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity. Governance costs are incurred for compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
**8**
## **PERSIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MAY 2024
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued…) :**
## _**1.5) PENSIONS**_
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the charity to the fund in respect of the year.
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**2.**
**£**
**£**
Donations
**16,675**
**80,100**
**3,525**
**20,000**
**5,509**
**0**
**25,709**
**100,100**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**3.**
**£**
**£**
**COSTS**
Donations / Scholarships paid
**520**
**67,767**
Support costs - Management
**15,831**
**2,605**
Governance costs
**3,235**
**809**
**19,586**
**71,181**
**4.**
Pension costs - NEST
Gift Aid tax refunds
**INCOME RECEIVED**
Wages and salaries
**STAFF COSTS - included in support costs**
**CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
Sundry income|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**16,675**
**80,100**
**3,525**
**20,000**
**5,509**
**0**|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**96,775**
**23,525**
**5,509**
**125,809**
**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**68,287**
**18,436**
**4,044**
**90,767**
**2024**
**£**
**12,000**
**173**
**12,173**|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_35,161_
_8,525_
59|
|---|---|---|---|
||**25,709**
**100,100**||_43,745_|
||**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**520**
**67,767**
**15,831**
**2,605**
**3,235**
**809**||_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_21,603_
_13,098_
_3,924_|
||**19,586**
**71,181**||_38,625_|
||||_2023_
_£_
_12,000_
_173_|
||||_12,173_|
|The average number of paid staff employed by the charity during the year was as follows:||
|---|---|
|**2024**|_2023_|
|**No.**|_No._|
|**1**|_1_|
**9**
**PERSIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MAY 2024
## **5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 May 2024.
|**6.**
**DEBTORS:**
**Amounts falling due within one year**
Gift Aid tax claim
**7.**
**CREDITORS:**
**Amounts falling due within one year**
Other Creditors
Accruals and deferred income
**8.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS:**|**2024**
**£**
**23,525**
**23,525**
**2024**
**£**
**34**
**3,360**
**3,394**|_2023_
_£_
_8,525_|
|---|---|---|
|||_8,525_|
|||_2023_
_£_
_34_
_3,360_|
|||_3,394_|
||||
|**Unrestricted funds**
**Restricted funds**
**TOTAL FUNDS**|**Net**
**movement**
**At 01.06.23**
**in funds**
**At 31.05.24**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**32,754**
**6,122**
**38,876**
**14,788**
**28,919**
**43,707**|
|---|---|
||**47,542**
**35,041**
**82,583**|
Restricted funds represent scholarship funds to aid and support students of Iranian descent in their final studies and education in the UK.
**10**
## **PERSIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MAY 2024
## **9. ANALYSIS OF ASSETS BEETWEEN FUNDS:**
|**Analysis of assets between funds - current year**
Debtors
Creditors - due within one year
_Analysis of assets between funds - prior year_
_Debtors_
_Creditors - due within one year_|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**3,525**
**20,000**
**23,525**
**2,715**
**679**
**3,394**|
|---|---|
||**6,240**
**20,679**
**26,919**|
||_Unrestricted_
_Restricted_
_Total_
_funds_
_funds_
_funds_
_2023_
_2023_
_2023_
_£_
_£_
_£_
_3,525_
_5,000_
_8,525_
_2,715_
_679_
_3,394_|
||_6,240_
_5,679_
_11,919_|
**11**
## **PERSIA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MAY 2024
|**INCOME RECEIVED**
**Donations**
**Gift Aid tax refunds**
**Sundry income**
**EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE**
**ACTIVITIES**
**Charitable activities:**
**Support costs - Management**
Wages and salaries
Pension Costs - NEST
Fund Raising expenses expenses
Room Hire
Insurance
Motoring costs
Website design and logo development costs
Bank charges
Stripe fees
costs
**Total expenditure**
**Net (expenditure) / income for the year**
**Income of charitable activities;-**
Accountancy, Gift Aid claims and payroll
**Governance costs**
**Donations / Scholarships paid**
**Income**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**16,675**
**80,100**
**96,775**
**3,525**
**20,000**
**23,525**
**5,509**
**0**
**5,509**
**25,709**
**100,100**
**125,809**
**520**
**67,767**
**68,287**
**9,600**
**2,400**
**12,000**
**138**
**35**
**173**
**1,659**
**0**
**1,659**
**3,153**
**0**
**3,153**
**121**
**30**
**151**
**39**
**0**
**39**
**560**
**140**
**700**
**132**
**0**
**132**
**429**
**0**
**429**
**15,831**
**2,605**
**18,436**
**3,235**
**809**
**4,044**
**19,586**
**71,181**
**90,767**
**6,122**
**28,919**
**35,041**|_Total_
_Funds_
_2023_
_£_
_35,161_
_8,525_
_59_|
|---|---|---|
|||_43,745_|
|||_21,603_|
|||_12,000_
_173_
_0_
_0_
_151_
_0_
_611_
_149_
_15_|
|||_13,098_
_3,924_|
|||_38,625_|
|||_5,120_|