Rew#er*l thwity nwntr¢r.. 1089850
LUTON COUNCIL OF FAITHS
FOR THE PEIUOD ENDED 31- MARCH 2026

Lulon Council of Faiths
Perlod Ended 3111 March 2026
Colltents
Charity Inforniation
Trusttts, Repon
Ststement of Financial A¢livities
Balance Sh¢et
11-14. Notes to the Financial Statements
10.
15.
Independeni Examiner's Reporl

Luton Council of Faiths
Charity Inforniation as 2131" Marcb 2026
Charity name
Luton Council of Faiths
Charity Dumber
1089850
Principal address
47 High Town Road
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU2 OBW
Trustees
Mr Zafar Khan - Chairperson
Mrs Gulie Butcher- Vice Chair
Mr Thakor Morarii- Incoming Treasurer
Mrs Ulrike Hunl
Mr Yogesh Misty
Bankers
The Co-operalive Bank
PO Box 250. Delf Howe
Southway
Skelmersdale
WN8 6WT
Lloyds TBS Bank PIC
60 George Street
Luton
Bedfordshire
LUI 2BB
Independent ex4miner
I. Hussain & Co Limited
Chartered Accountants and Business advisors
I l George Street West
Luton
Bedfordshire
LUI 2BJ

Luton Couneil of Faiths
Trustees Annugl Re
Histo
ob'ectives and activities of the Chari
On constitution it was believed the multiculiural cohesion of the religious and culiurd communities in
Luton required addressing. The charity began with an initial granl. Both the initial grant and subsequent
grants since have been under the ternis which allow the trusiees to either relain the amounts as capithl or
to spend them.
The objectives of the charity include:
a) To bring together members of the different faith communities in Luton for deeper dialogue
and co-operation
b) To increase understanding and trust between different faiths, building on common ground
between them yei respecting the unique contribution which each brings
c) To work towards greater social cohesion and community integration in Luton
d) To see inter faiih co-operation ￿ linking into global co-operation between faiths and cultures
for the creation of a beller world
Mana
ement
overnan
ements
The constitution provides for a minimum of five trustees. Where there is a requirement for new trustees.
these would be identified and appoini¢d by the remaining t￿￿tees, subject to the approval by AGM. The
¢hair of the trustees is responsible for the induction of any new trustee which involves awareness of a
trustee's responsibility. the governin8 documenL administrative procedures, the history and philosophical
approach of the chariiy. The trusttts hav¢ taken steps to identify major risks to which the charity is
exposed and systems have been established to mitigate those risks.
A hievements and Perf
rniance of he
Over the past year. events around the world and here in the United Kingdom have reminded u5 how e&sily
communities can become polarised. International conflicts, mi5infomiation. social pressures and
competing narraiives can all place strain on relationships. At the same time, towns such as Luton continue
to face significant challenges, including poverty. inequality and the everyday pressures experienced by
many families. In such circumstances, it is worth asking a simple question.. what helps a divers¢ town
remain connected? It is certainly not btcause everyone thinks alike, believes alike or agrees on every
issue. The reality is quite the opposite.
Lulon is home to people of different faith& cultures, experiences and perspectives. Differences are real.
Disagreements Are inevitable. At times, local events, national debaies and international conflicts can test
relationships between communities. The true strength of a community is not m￿ured by the absence of
disagreement. It is measured by its ability to navigate disagreement without falling apart. Can people
continue talking when tensions rise? Can relationships survive ditTicult conversations? Can communities
work together for the common good even when they do noi see every issue in the same way.
These questions lie at the heart of the work of the Luton Council of Faiths. This year's report tells some
of those stories. It reflects a year in which faith communities. partners and residents have continued to
work together for the good of our towi). Challenges remain. and there is still much work to do. Yei there
remains a deep commitment across Luton to building a community where differences are respected,
relationships are valued and everyone can play theAr parL

Re
rt Summa
A ri12025- March 2026
During a year marked by global uncertainty. ￿la] polarisation and grow'ing challenges lo
community cohesion. the Luton Council of Faiths continued io bring people together across
faiths, cultures and communities through education. dialogue. Service. remembrance.
celebration and Civic enga8emenL in order io build a more respethl and ffsilient Lulon.
BY THE NUMBERS
m.lrcn g(12)
Apr I12U2fj
15+
tc.•
80+
50+
4,000+
100+
30
K Aebie%'
ment8
Educ*tiDg for Re8peet: Carried our school engagemcnt programme expk)ring: 'Whal Will
Make Our Town Respectful?" Young people engaged dirtctly with faith leader& exploring
cilizcnship, belon8in& diversity and respectful disagreem¢nL
Str¢ngtkn¢nlng Commuiity Cobesion: Suppffied local rcsFK)nscs 10 rising misinfomiatio
hate. communiry tensions whik ¢reatin8 safe spaces for dialogue and ￿ lationshipbuildin
C¢l¢brating Diverylty: sup1￿d faith & cultural celebrntions Eid Easter. NaWn￿ Vcsakh.
Diwali, Chanukkah, Guru Ravidass Ji's Birth Anniversary, Peace Light from Bethlehem. Sri
Lankan New Year. Windrush. Dcsi FesL Black History & South Asian Herilage Months.
Stxllding Togcthcr in RcmcmbrnDce." Brought communities together for HolocausL
Srebreni¢4 Covid Memorial & VE 80 even￿ Remembrance Sunday. and Refugee Week
Serving the Commllnlty: Supp)rted initiatives wkltng loneliness f(KMI p)verty, mentsl
health ¢hall¢ng¢s 58feguardin8 ¢0￿Crn$ and community wellbeing
Promoting Peace: Successfully delivered the annual Peace Wall bringing together people
of all faiths and none in a visible demonstration of unity. friendship and ho

Commttnity ¢oh￿lon ADd civic leadership
Strengthening the Relatiollships That Hold a Town Together
By maintaining strong relationships and open channels of communication, the LCOF helps
ensure that concerns can be rnisel misunderstandings addffssed and tensions reduced befo
they become more significanl problems. In an increasingly complex and intrr¢onnecied
world, this role remains as imFK)rtant as ever. Partnership highlights in¢lude
Regular engagement with sthtutoTr' partners
sup￿)rt for Community cohesion inili&ives
Participation in Safeguarding discussions
Contribuiions io civic and community consultstions
Strengthening relationships between faiih communities
RcspK)ndin8 constructively lo emergin8 ¢ommunity concerns
Buildlng reslllence through relationsbl
Working Together DMrlDg Cballellging Times
Every community experiences moments ihai te51 relalion5hips. Local concerns. intemalional
conflicts misinformaiion, prejudice and social pressures can all affeci how people see one
another and how communities inieract. The Lulon Council of Faiihs believes Ihat resilience is
built long before il 15 needed. It is ¢ffated through sustained relationship5, regular
engagement and opportunities for people to learn from one anothcr. Throughout the year. a
number of events provided opportunities lo refleci up)n the consequences of division and ihe
importance of maintaining positive relaiionships across communities. These events include
Holcuust Memorial Day | Rememi%ring STebr¢nica | Refugee Week | Inter Faith Week.
Building respect through education
InTr'e5ting in the Next GeDeration
Education remain5 one of the most importanl W'ays of building undetstsnding and preparing
young people to live positively in an increasingly diverse society. Throughout 2025-2026.
the Luton Council of Faiths conttnued to work with ￿hoolS across the town. providin8
opportunilie5 for pupils lo engage direcily with faith leaders and explore questions of identity,
belongin& citizenship and respect. Our schools programme fc¢used on the iheme: "Whal
Will Make Our Town Respectful?" This sirnple question en¢oura8ed young people to think
critically aboul the kind of community they wish lo live in and ihe role ihev can play in
shaping it. Faith leader5 Visited sch(x)Is together. demonstraling through their presence ihal
people can hold different beliets while working cooperatively and respectfully for the benefit
of society. Th¢ programme provided pupi15 Wlth opwrtunittes to ask questions challenge
assumplions and gain a deC￿r understanding of different faiths cultures and perspective5.
Importantly, it also encouraged young people to reflect on values that are essential to
community life. including kindne55. fairness, empath).. resp)nsibility and respecl. For many
pupils. meeting faith leaders from different tradition5 was a powerful experience. Rather than
learning from Stereoty￿ or media narrative& voung people engaged directly with people of
beliefs which helped to build confidence, curiosity and understanding while encouraging
respectful dlscussion about topics thal are Som￿lm¢S ￿r¢e1Ved as diificult or sensitive.
LCOF engagement cornplernents the work al￿adY taking place within schools to prornole
citizenship. inclusion. British Values while supporting RE. Bj. providing real-life examples of
cooperation across differences, laith leaders help bring these principles to life in a meaningful
and practical way. Teachers consistently report￿ high levels of pupil engagement and
thoughtful participation throughout the progrdmme.

Peace Walk 2025
The annual Peace Walk ￿MaInS one of the mosl Visible expressions of unity, frtendship and
community spiril within Luton. In 2025. people from differenl faith& culiures and
backgrounds once a￿1n carne together to walk side by side through the town. demonstrdting
a shared commitment to peace, resw and understandlng. For many participants, the Peace
Walk is more ihan an evenl. It is an Op￿rtUnIty to meet new people. visit places of worship.
learn about different tradiiions and eX&￿rienCe the hospitality thai ex1￿$ across Lulon's
diverse communities. li provides a visible rerninder thal while people may differ in belief
culiures and backgrounds there remains a strong commitsnent to living iogether positively
and Conslructively. As Imrticipants irnvelled b¢￿een different venues, the), were welcomed
by faith communities who opened their dcA)rs and shared something of iheir tradition& history
and values. These enc(mJn￿rS helped ¢reate opFK)rtunities for conversation. learning and
friendship. For many resident& the walk offered a chance io visii places they had never
entered before and to gain a greaier appreciatiim of the diversity that exists within their
town. The involvemeni of s¢h¢x)1s and young people remained an imwyrtani feature of this
year's Peace Walk. Their participaiion helped ensure that the values underpinning the Peace
Walk coniinue 10 be Pas￿ io future Benerntions.
Why the Peaee Walk Matters
The Peace Walk conlinues to demonstrnte that meaningful ￿lationShipS are built through
encounter. When people walk log￿her, talk together and learn from one another, barriers can
be broken down and understanding grow. In a world where differences are often
emphasised, the Peace Walk provides a wsiiive example of what can be achicvcd when
ommunilies choose ¢ooperaiion over division.
Servlce And soelAI x¢th)n - Faltb In Acdon
Throughout the year. faith communities across Luton conlinued io demonstrate that faith is
not only expressed through worship and belief, but also ihrough service to others. Across the
town. people of faith gave their lime. skills resources and compassion to support individuals
and families facing a wide range of challenges. Whether addressing f(M)d poverty. lonelines&
mental health concerns. safeguardin8 issues or responding to emergencies faith cornmunities
remained committed to servin8 the wider Community. This work often takes place quietly and
without recognitio￿ yet it makes a significant contribution to the well￿1n8 of our iown.
LCOF continues to ¢elebratr and supw)rt these efforts recoBnising that service is one of the
most wiwerful ways of building stronger, more connected o)mmunities. Throughout the year,
faith communities tsckled the continuing cosl-of-living pressures by supporting foodbanks.
community kitchen& breakfast clubs and l(xal iniliatives providing assistance to those in
need. The Luton Fo(Klbank Colour Run once again demonstraied ihe generosity of I￿&1
residen1& attracting record participation while rdising awareness and support for those
experiencing hardship. A range of initiaiives explored mental health. emotional wellbein8
and the role that faith Communiti￿ can play in SUPfM)rting individuals through difficult limes.
Many faith leaders provide pastoral Ca￿, friendship to vulnerable individuals & families.
fegll*rdfing and Protecting the Vulnerabk
The Council of Faiths continued to work with partners lo pmmote safeguarding awa￿ne$S
and best practice. Particular attention was given io initiatives such as Faiths Against Child
Sexual Exploiiation (FACES), helping faith communiiies engage constructively with
safeguarding issues and ensuring thai concerns are addressed fairly, effectively and without
prejudice. Protc¢ting vulnernble people remains a shared responsibility of all in society.

Responding to ￿e21 aDd Global Need
Faith communities also demonstrated solidarity beyond the i)oundaries of Lulon. Support was
given to relief effort& fundraising campaigns and humanilarian iniliatives responding io
disasfrrs and crises affecting communities around the world. These efforts reflected that
compassion knows no iKJrders and it must exiend beyond our immediate communilies. Su¢h
ouniless acts of kindness carried out every day across our town rarely make headline& yet
they ￿Ma1ft the most powerful expressions of faith and communiry in action.
Worklng ID Partnership
The Council of Faiths continued to M'ork closelv w iih a w ide r8ng¢ of p21kners including:
Lulon Borough Council
B¢dfordshire Police
• Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner
. NHS partners
• Schools and educational insiitulions
University of Bedfordshire
. Volunlary and Communiiy Sector organisations
• Near Neighbours
. GRASSROOTS
. Communily and faith-ba5ed organisations
These partnerships help ensure that the voices of faith communities ¢ontributC FKlSitively to
discussions aboui the future of the ￿Wn.
Communlty eobesloD and clvl¢ leadershlp
Strengthening tbe Rti*tion$hips Th*1 Hold a Town Together
Community cohesion is often de5¢ribed in ierms of poli¢ie& strategies and programmes. In
reality. il is something much more human. It is the irusi betw'een neighbours. It IS thc
willingness to listen to those with whom we disagree. li is the confidence that when
challenge5 aris¢. Iherr are relalionships strong enough to withstand them. These relationships
do not emerge by accideni. The>. are built patienil). over time through dialogue, cooperaiion
and shared eX&￿rienCeS. For three decade& the Luton Council of Faiths has play¢d a unique
role in nurturing those re1￿lon$hIps across our towTr. and it remained a 'Trn*d Forum,
throughout 2025-2026 tcKI.
IAMJking Forward with Hope
As we celebrate thirty y'ears of walking iogeiher, we do so with gratitude for all those who
have contributed to ihis journey. We honour the founders who had the vision to create Luton
Council of Faiths. We thank the voluntttr& schools faith communities partners and
participants who have sustained li over three dKade5. M05¢ importanily, we recognise thal
the work is not finished. The challenges facing K￿lety are evolvin& and the need for trusL
understanding and cooperaiion remain5 conslanL
As we look ahea(I we do so with confidence thai the relationships built over the past thirty
years will continue to inspire future generntions that they can build a better future together.

Financial review and res¢r4es
The net incoming resources for the year was a d¢fi¢ii of £947 (2025 - deficit of £447). At th¢ end of the
financial year the reserve5 were £43,785 (2025 £40,510) of unrestricted funds and a deficit of £19.565
12025 - deficit of £15,343) of r¢stricl¢d funds. The adequacy of the reserves rM)li¢y' is reviewed annually.
The trustees are satisfied that reserves are presently more than adequate to meet fumre expenditure. The
Trustees have a tM)li¢y of aiming to retain reserves equivalent lo six months, 8verag¢ expendiwre. This is
due io the uncertain nalure of funding received. The total reserve funds ai the y¢ar-end ￿'Cre £24.220 (2025
£25,167).
Future
lans
The trustees iniend to wntinue PTovide relief in a similar mann¢r ￿ before.
Charity law requires the trusiees to pr¢pAre the financial statements for each fin8ntio1 year which show a
Irue and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and its financial activities for that year. In preparing
Ihose financtal stat¢m¢nts. the tsustees are Tequired to:
Select suitablc accouniing ￿li¢l¢S and ihen appty thcm consistentty.
Make jud8ements and ¢slimates are re&sonable and pnklent.
Slate whether appli¢able accounting standards and staiements of r¢wmmended practice have been
followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial stalemenls. and
Prepare the financial statements on th¢ going concern btsis unless il is inappropriate to presume
that the charity will continue in operational extstence.
The trustees are ttspnsible for keepin8 proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable
accuracy at any lim¢ the financial w)sition of the charity Ind io enable them io ensure that the financia]
statements comply with the Charities A¢t. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the
chariry and henc¢ for tsking reasonabl¢ sleps for the prevention and deleciion of fraud and other
irregulariti¢$.
Inde
ndent
The trustees inlend to &sk the ¢xisting accountants to undertake the tndep¢nd¢nl cxamination of the tTUSt
in the following year.
Signed on behalf of th¢ trustees
.. Mr Zafar Khan- Chairp¢r50n
"Iii,£
. Mr Thakor Morarii- Tre&surer
Dale..

Lutoll Coullcil of F•iihs
Ststemenl ofFiDan¢i*l A¢¢ivities
For tbe Period Ended 31° Marcb 2026
Totsl
2026
Tothl fillhd5
2025
tknd$ 2026
2026
FuThd$ 2026
IncomlTri resowrtt*
Incornt and endowmellts frow:
. ikTrn&iions
8.753
8.753
4.145
. Invc5tmeiits
. Chvt'tabie ￿*￿11¢5
20,C
43.427
61427
50.991
3.4BV
. (Xh¢r In¢om¢
Rtyourrts tipended
4.10
kuisins funds
Costs of8¢n¢rnim8 volunw
Tr'un(traisin8 trading Wsts
Inve5tsnenE rnlln4¢rn¢nl ¥i)sty
2.449
23,(Q)
679
J.128
69J79
hwii*ble activil*X incl￿1￿¥ Cwrn
4Dd su
n ¢oAs
otherexpe￿i1DIT¢
46.870
51.148
20
J.1
5.120
23
Toiil expelldlturt
TiTr1211 fund5 tr(ou8hi foN8rd
Tot•1 tsndl e•rrled forn*rd
The notes oft pages l O to 13 forni PArt of these accounts.

Luton Council of Faiths
Balanc¢ Sheet
A8 at 31" Mareh 2026
Totsl this year
2026
Tothl this
fwids 2026
runds 2026
FuJds 2026
2025
Tangible Assets
TotAI Flxed Asvts
Current Assets
DLbiors
C￿h al bAnk WMI in
2A039
26,039
76.987
Total ¢urrent iwts
21039
2A039
?{1.987
Creditors.. 4mounts fllllin8 due within one
12
11,8191
11.819)
Nrt ¢urrent *iiets
Total fynds
Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by:
Mr Zafar Khan . Chairperson
Da*:
.. Mr Thakor Morarii . Treasurer
Date..
1612
02
io

Lnton Council of Fgiths
Y¢Ar EDded 31Jt March 2026
l. Ac¢ounlin
olicies
a) The accounts have been prepared in a￿rdance with the Statement of Recommended Prnctice:
Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Finjncial
Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republi¢ of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July
2014 and with the Charities Act 2011.
b) Recognition of Income- there are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when
the charity becomes enlitled to the resources and monetary value CaD be measured with sufficient
reliability.
c) Investment income is recorded when receivable
d) All expendiluff is included in the accounts on an accTual b&sis. Irrecoverable VAT is charged to
the SOFA ￿ incurred.
e) The restricted funds of the Charity arc cxpendable funds which 15 regularly increased or retsined as
capital at th¢ Inistces. di￿retiOn.
O All capital related expenditure costing more than £750 is capitsliscd. Depreciation on fixtures and
fittings is charged on a sirai8ht line basis over 5 years.
2. Taxation
Luton Council of Faiths is 8 regislered charity and ac¢ordin8ly is exempt from taxation on its income
and gains where they apply to charitable purposes.
The restricted donations in the curreni year and the previous year represenl in¢ome mainly from
Grants but also from donations to the Luton Council of Faiths restricted funds only.
nal
co
2026
2025
Salaries and PA YE
crs NIC
Total
The number of full-tim¢ employees during the year was one and there were no average part time
members of staff.
5. Rel ted P
None of the trustees were paid any remuneration or expenses by the charity during the year (2025
£Nil)

6. Anal
is of Income from Charitable activities
2026
Unrestricted
2026
Restricted
Total 2026
Total 2025
Bedfordshire &
Luton Community
Foundation and the
Luton Rising-
Community
Investment Fund
Luton Borough
council
contributions
Other donations
43,427
43.427
45.714
20.000
20.1)00
5.277
8,753
8,753
4,145
Total
7. Anal
isof
er inc
me
2026
Unrestricted
2026
Restricied
Total 2026
Total 2025
Church Urban Fund
Near Nei
3,480
Total
480
nal
sis of Charita
leex
ndilu
The charity has undertaken direct acttvity to meet its charitable Purposes. The following is the
analysis of the charity's direct expenditure..
2026
Unrestricted
2026
Restricted
2026
Total
2025
Totsl
Books Resources
Other Events,
mes and items
679
679
2,449
7,890
Total
5,100
5,779
7,549
,228
6.470
6,470
12

12
9. The resources ex
nded b the chari
incl
2026
600
2025
600
Inde
ndent examiner's fee
Total
6(Kl
io.
nclude-
2026
Unrestricted
2026
Restriued
2026
Total
2025
Total
Near Nei
hbours
Charitable giving and
donaiions
Total
20
20
20
25
Support costs. consisling of the renl and rates and staff salaries are split belwttn charitable
activity and 8overnance on an actual or equal estirnaied basis. This is because it is di￿L¢U11 io
estimate ihe expense attribu￿ble to each activity. sUp￿rt cosls apportioned to the different aims
of the charity are shown in the note below.
Basis of
rtionment
2026
2026
2026
2025
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
OITice costs
Subseri
lions
Travelling and general
ex
ndilure
Equipment
Salaries and staff costs
Pensions
Grass roots
Insurance
Tele
hone
Professional
Advertising and
ublicit
Volunteerin
Actual
Aciual
Actual
33
688
218
218
Actu81
Actual
Actual
Aclual
Aciual
Actual
Actual
Actual
1,630
.630
42
12,000
774
774
495
772
1,661
730
900
772
220
495
772
1.280
382
Actual
137
138
Total
70
13

ible Fixed Assets
There W¢Te no movements or any tangible fixed ¢urrenily held by the Charity during the
year.
12. An
2026
2025
Restriued fiu)ds
Totsl
13. An
2026
2025
Inde
PAYE
Total
ndenl examiner's fee
19
19
14

Inde
lldent esaminer's Re
rt to the Trnslees of LutoD Council of Faiths
I rew>rt on th¢ ￿CoUnts of the Chwiry for the yw ended 31 March 2026 which set out on pages 8 to
15.
iner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparaiion of the accounts. The charity's tn￿tee5 consider
Ih&i an audit in not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and that an
independeni examination is needed.
It is my reswnsibility to-
Examine the ¥counts under section 145 of the Charities ACL
To follow the procedures laid down in the Gcnml Directions given by ihe Charity Commission
(under section 145(5Xb) of the Act and
To stsle whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basi
in
My examinaiion was carri¢d out in accordance with th¢ G¢n¢ral Directions given by the Charity
Commission. An examination includes a review of ihe accounting rewrds kept by ihe charity and
comparison of the accounts pr¢s¢nt¢d with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual
items or disclosures in the a¢wunts, and seeking explanations from you as Irustees concerning any such
matters. The procedures undertaken do nol provide all evidence thal would be required in an audit, and
consequently no opinion 15 given ￿ to wh¢ther the accounts present a 'tru¢ or fair. view and ihe repotl IS
limiied to those ma¢lers set out in ihe ststem¢nl below.
nde
ndeni
in
In the course of my ex8mination, no matter has come io my attention:
(l ) which gives m¢ rcasonable cause io believe that in. any malerial respe¢L the requirements:
to keep proper accounting record5 in accordance with section 130 of the Chorilies Act; and
lo prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the
accounting Tequiremcnts of ihe Charities A¢t have not ￿en met or
(2) to which. in my opinion. attenlion $I￿Uld be drawn in ord¢r lo enable a proper understanding of
the account to be rea¢h¢d.
have no concerns and have come across no oth¢r matters in conne¢tion with the examination to which
attention should b¢ drawn in ihis report in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be
reached
l Huss&in and Co Limited
Chartered Accouniants and Business ￿vISOrS
I l George Street West
Luton
Bedfordshire
LUI 2BJ
15