REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1117039 REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 05385343
DIALOGUE SOCIETY
(A company limited by guarantee without share capital)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 MARCH 2024
DIALOGUE SOCIETY
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Legal and administrative information | 2 |
| Trustees’ Report | 3-4 |
| Accountant’s Report | 5 |
| Balance Sheet | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 8-15 |
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DIALOGUE SOCIETY
Legal and administrative information
Trustees
Beyza Nur Coskun
Muammer Demirpolat
Selcuk Bassoy
Company Number: 05385343
Charity Number: 1117039
Registered Office address
244 Chase Road, London, N14 6HH
Accountants
AA ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES 244 Chase Road London N14 6HH
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DIALOGUE SOCIETY Registered number: 05385343
Directors' Report
Dialogue Society is an organisation that aims to advance social cohesion by connecting communities, empowering people to engage and contributing to the development of ideas on dialogue and community building. It does this by bringing people together through discussion forums, courses, capacity-building publications and outreach.
Overview
Between 1[st] April 2023, and 31[st] March 2024, our activities included the Talking Bubble Project; the Dialogue Society Book Group; Scriptural Reasoning sessions; publications; courses and discussion forums on diverse themes in different formats; Life of a Chickpea Project; Interfaith Week activities and the delivery of a range of intercultural community events, such as picnics, Christmas and iftar dinners. Additionally, we provided training and support to our branches and engaged in fundraising efforts.
Our primary activities can be detailed under the following headings:
Talking Bubble Project: The Talking Bubble Project has significantly impacted many lives by addressing the challenges of loneliness. This initiative includes a phone-befriending service that connects individuals at risk of isolation with volunteers. The project aims to foster meaningful friendships and improve participants' quality of life by facilitating regular conversations and mutual check-ins. Offering support in over 20 languages, the Talking Bubble Project has become an essential resource in promoting inclusivity and community cohesion.
Dialogue Society Book Group: For over a decade, the Dialogue Society Book Group has been exploring the power of literature to provide insights into diverse cultural and intercultural experiences. At our relaxed, sociable gatherings, we select and discuss quality novels, encouraging participants to read the book in advance and share their thoughts during the meeting. Discussions cover the storytelling quality, the authenticity of cultural or historical portrayals, and personal responses to the text. Open to all literature enthusiasts, the group aims to foster a love for reading and discovering new perspectives through shared literary exploration.
Publications: This year, the Dialogue Society proudly published Volume 11 of the Journal of Dialogue Studies, titled ‘Governance for the Human Future: The Centrality of Dialogue.’ This volume explores the ways international governance processes might be improved by drawing on insights from innovative dialogue theory and good dialogue practices. Additionally, our most recent publishing projects have received good reception and interest. The Ramadan Journal complements our fast-breaking community iftar events, which was followed by the Christmas Journal, where we hope to bring diverse voices together from the community.
Empowering youth and refugee groups: We offer support to refugees and asylum seekers in the regions we serve. Our work includes advocating for their rights by raising awareness among authorities, stakeholders, and the broader community about the challenges they face. We support policies and practices that protect and empower them. By organising meetings with various community groups and stakeholders, we help foster an inclusive society that recognises the valuable contributions of immigrant communities. Our initiatives include Breakfast Clubs for Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Youth Integration Training for Refugees, and Community-Led Confidence Building Events.
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Courses and discussion forums : During this period, we organised several discussion forums in varying formats to achieve critical, open and meaningful dialogue by bringing people together. A wide range of discussions were held covering multiple issues relevant to our areas of interest.
Life of a Chickpea: This newly initiated community project uses the humble chickpea's journey as a metaphor for understanding societal models, British values such as democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for different faiths and beliefs, and individual roles in a diverse community. Through engaging seminars at primary and secondary schools and similar venues and interactions with diverse community leaders, students are encouraged to explore their roles in a multicultural society and develop a strong sense of identity and respect for others. Inspired by the story of Noah's Pudding, the project uses the metaphor of diverse ingredients coming together to form a harmonious dish, emphasising the importance of maintaining individuality while contributing to the larger community. The project also aims to build resilience to extremism, support individual development, and enhance leadership skills by encouraging students to propose solutions to societal integration barriers.
Scriptural Reasoning: This interfaith project aims to bring together members of different faiths to read and reflect on short passages from their scriptures, discussing specific topics to foster friendship and mutual understanding of each other's and their own scriptures. It has been practised at several of our branches over some years now in partnership with other faith groups.
Community Events: Throughout the year, we organised numerous community gatherings and activities to enhance social cohesion. These events included community fast-breaking iftar dinners nationwide, themed ‘Peace and Unity’, and the IftarMe project, which aimed to bring dialogue into homes to foster societal harmony. We also hosted Christmas Community Dinners under the same theme, uniting hundreds of diverse communities across the UK to celebrate and address common challenges. Additionally, our community activities featured participating in park cleanups, ‘walking for talking’ events, interfaith cycling, organising picnics, engaging in arts and crafts with local elderly communities, conducting workshops and performances, women's day parties, interfaith visits to places of worship, and more.
Interfaith Week Activities: The Dialogue Society is dedicated to fostering interfaith understanding and cooperation through a variety of impactful activities. Throughout the year, we organized events that bring together individuals from different faiths and backgrounds to engage in meaningful dialogue and build lasting connections. Our initiatives included interfaith visits to places of worship, collaborative community service projects, and cultural exchange programs. One of our flagship events, the 'Noah's Pudding' project, has been instrumental in promoting interfaith harmony for over eighteen years by encouraging participants to share a traditional dessert and engage in conversations about their faiths and cultures.
Fundraising : We have maintained our fundraising efforts through regular donations and contributions from our supporters. Additionally, we have raised funds by selling books and goods and through eBay sales throughout the year. These activities help us facilitate dialogue between different community groups.
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DIALOGUE SOCIETY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
(Incorporating income and expenditure account) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
| Unristricted Notes Funds INCOME AND EXPENDITURES £ INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources from generated funds: Voluntary income 2 141314 Activities for generating funds 3 68143 Investment income 4 0 Incoming resources from charitable activities 5 0 Other incoming resources 6 72 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 209529 RESOURCES EXPENDED charitable Activities 7 194653 Governance Costs 8 7686 Other resources expended 9 0 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 11 202339 NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES before transfers 21 7190 Transfersbetween funds - NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS FOR THE YEAR 7190 Total Funds at 1 April 2023 63768 Prior Year Adjustment (Note 19) 0 Total Funds at 31 March 2024 70958 ===== |
Restricted Funds £ 116123 0 0 0 - 116123 107000 14000 0 121000 -4877 - -4877 5400 0 523 ===== |
2024 Total £ 257,437 68143 0 0 72 325652 301653 21686 0 323339 2313 - 2313 69168 0 71481 ===== |
2023 Total £ 190,225 126923 0 0 23880 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 341028 | |||
| 316040 23340 0 |
|||
| 339380 | |||
| 1648 - |
|||
| 1648 121661 0 |
|||
| 123309 ===== |
The notes on pages 12 to 22 form part of these accounts.
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DIALOGUE SOCIETY
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024
| Notes 2024 ₤ 15 19882 19882 Debtors 16 22572 Stocks 2495 56123 81190 17 (19194) 61996 18 -10397 71481 ===== 20 523 20 70958 71481 ===== Unrestricted funds CREDITORS:Amounts falling due within one year Total assets less current liabilities Net current assets / (liabilities) CREDITORS:Amounts falling due more than one year FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets CURRENT ASSETS Cash at bank and in hand Restricted funds CHARITY FUNDS |
2023 ₤ 20382 |
|---|---|
| 20382 19464 34200 30720 |
|
| 84384 (21320) |
|
| 63064 -14278 |
|
| 69168 ===== 5400 63768 |
|
| 69168 ===== |
The notes on pages 16 to 24 from part of these accounts. Approved by the Board of Trustees on 30 September 2024 and signed on its behalf by Selcuk Bassoy, Trustee.
Selcuk Bassoy Chairman
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DIALOGUE SOCIETY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008). The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' published in March 2005 and applicable accounting standards.
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.
Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.
1.3 Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of financial activities when the charity has entitlement to the funds, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Donated services or facilities, which comprise donated services, are included in income at a valuation which is an estimate of the financial cost borne by the donor where such a cost is quantifiable and measurable No income is recognised where there is no financial cost borne by a third party.
Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable
1.4 Resources expended
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular activities they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is made except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching are fulfilled, Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end are noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure.
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DIALOGUE SOCIETY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
1.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
All assets costing more than £ 500 are capitalised.
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:
Fixtures and fittings 25% reducing balance
1.6 Foreign currencies
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date.
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rate ruling on the date of the transaction.
Exchange gains and losses are recognised in the Statement of financial activities.
1.7 Programme related investment
Programme related investments are stated at the cost of investment.
| 2. VOLUNTARY INCOME Donations Grants Voluntary Income 3. TRADING ACTIVITIES Charity trading income Charity trading income-Domestic Net income from trading activities |
Unristricted Funds £ 132939 8375 141314 Unristricted Funds £ 68143 68143 |
Restricted Funds £ 0 116123 116123 Restricted Funds £ 0 0 |
2024 Total £ 132939 124498 257437 2024 Total £ 68143 68143 |
2023 Total £ 122022 68203 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 190225 | ||||
| 2023 Total £ 126923 |
||||
| 126923 |
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DIALOGUE SOCIETY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
| 4. INVESTMENT INCOME Unristricted Funds £ Rental Income 5. INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE Unristricted Funds £ Charitable Activities 0 6. OTHER INCOMING RESOURCES Unristricted Funds £ Other incoming resources 72 7. EXPENDITURE BY CHARITABLE ACTIVITY SUMMARY BY FUND TYPE Unristricted Funds £ Investment Income 0 Charitable Activities 194653 194653 SUMMARY BY EXPENDITURE TYPE Staff Costs £ Investment Income 0 Charitable Activities 94088 94088 |
Restricted 2024 Funds Total £ £ 0 0 ACTIVITIES Restricted 2024 Funds Total £ £ 0 0 Restricted 2024 Funds Total £ £ 0 72 Restricted 2024 Funds Total £ £ 0 0 107000 301653 107000 301653 Other 2024 Costs Total £ £ 0 0 215787 309875 215787 309875 |
2023 Total £ 0 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Total £ 0 |
||
| 2023 Total £ |
||
| 23880 | ||
| 2023 Total £ 0 316040 |
||
| 316040 | ||
| 2023 Total £ 0 339380 |
||
| 339380 |
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DIALOGUE SOCIETY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
| 8. GOVERNANCE COSTS Unrestricted Funds £ Governance- Accountants fees 1450 Governance - Premises costs for head office 4624 Governance - telephone 226 Governance expense - computer expenses 87 Governance expense - wages and salaries 409 Governance expense - NI 390 Governance - depreciation - tangible fixed assets 500 7686 ==== 9. OTHER RESOURCES EXPENDED Unrestricted Funds £ Loss((profit) on disposal of fixed asset 0 ==== 10. DIRECT COSTS Basis of Unrestricted All Charitable activities Allocation Funds £ Charitable Contributions/Purchases Direct 71478 Cleaning Direct 206 Staff training and welfare Direct 5696 Premises Direct 41624 Insurance Direct 446 Books and magazine Direct 0 Other legal an prof Direct 1900 Equipment hire Direct 1997 Printing, Postage and Stationary Direct 1212 Motor expenses Direct 959 Office / admin expenses Direct 3422 Telephone and internet Direct 2032 Travel and substance Direct 1798 Exchange differences Direct 6 Bank Charges Direct 959 Consultancy fees Direct 17591 Subscriptions Direct 1858 Donation Direct 171 Miscellaneous Direct 167 Advertising Direct 6279 Paypal/ebay fees Direct 2840 Software Direct 786 Wages and salaries Direct 2679 Pension Direct 1464 Accommodation Direct 2214 Courier Direct 125 Editing Direct 3227 |
Unrestricted Funds £ 1450 4624 226 87 409 390 500 |
Restricted Funds £ 9000 5000 14000 ==== Restricted Funds £ 0 ==== Restricted Funds £ 20000 5000 82000 |
2024 Total £ 1450 4624 226 87 9409 5390 500 |
2023 Total £ 1400 3210 156 114 10755 7205 500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7686 ==== Unrestricted Funds £ |
21686 ==== 2024 Total £ |
23340 ==== 2023 Total £ |
||
| 0 ==== 2024 Total £ 91478 206 5696 41624 446 0 1900 1997 1212 959 3422 2032 1798 6 959 22591 1858 171 167 6279 2840 786 84679 1464 2214 125 3227 |
0 ==== 2023 Total £ 97370 2854 2049 28894 848 17490 0 0 3969 954 1230 1403 3296 0 1133 12458 1122 0 169 4030 1099 1029 96797 1803 11900 518 0 |
| Equipment expensed Direct 3890 Service charges Direct 101 Meeting and event expenses Direct 17526 194653 ==== |
Equipment expensed Direct 3890 Service charges Direct 101 Meeting and event expenses Direct 17526 194653 ==== |
107000 ==== |
3890 101 17526 |
1029 5848 16748 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 194653 ==== |
301653 ==== |
316040 ==== |
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DIALOGUE SOCIETY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
11. ANALYSIS OF RESOURCES EXPENDED BY EXPENDITURE TYPE
| Staff Costs Depreciation Other Costs 2024 £ £ £ £ Investment Income 0 0 0 0 Charitable Activities 94088 500 215287 309875 Charitable activities 94088 500 215287 309875 Governance 14799 500 6387 21686 Loss on disposal of fixed assets 0 0 0 0 108887 1000 221674 331561 12. ANALYSIS OF RESOURCES EXPENDED BY ACTIVITIES Activities undertaken Total Directly Support Costs 2024 £ £ £ Investment Income 0 0 0 Charitable Activities 107000 21686 128686 Total 107000 21686 128686 |
2024 £ 0 309875 |
2023 £ 0 316040 |
|---|---|---|
| 309875 | 316040 | |
| 21686 0 |
23296 0 |
|
| 331561 | 23296 | |
| Total 2023 £ 0 23296 |
||
| 128686 | 23296 |
13. NET INCOMING RESOURCES
This is stated after charging:
| 13. NET INCOMING RESOURCES This is stated after charging: |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Depreciation of tangible fixed assets: owned by charity | 500 | 500 |
| Auditor's remuneration | 0 | 0 |
| Governance Accountant fees | 1450 | 1400 |
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration (2022 -£NIL). During the year, no Trustees received any benefits in kind (2022 -£NIL).
During the year, no Trustees received any reimbursement of expenses (2022 -£NIL).
14. STAFF COSTS
Staff costs were as follows:
| Wages and salaries Social security costs The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: |
2024 £ 94088 6854 100942 2024 No. 8 |
2023 £ 107552 9008 |
|---|---|---|
| 116560 | ||
| 2023 No. 10 |
No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.
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DIALOGUE SOCIETY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
15. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| Land & | Fixtures & | Motor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings | Fittings | Vehicles | TOTAL | |||
| Cost | £ | |||||
| At 01.04.2023 | 0 | 31182 | 0 | 31182 | ||
| Additions | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| At 31.03.2024 | 0 | 31182 | 31182 | |||
| Depreciation | ||||||
| At 01.04.2023 | 0 | 10800 | 0 | 10800 | ||
| charge for period | 0 | 500 | 500 | |||
| At 31.03.2024 | 0 | 11300 | 0 | 11300 | ||
| Net book values | ||||||
| At 31.03.2024 | 0 | 19882 | 0 | 19882 | ||
| At 31.03.2023 | 0 | 20382 | 0 | 20382 |
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DIALOGUE SOCIETY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
16. DEBTORS
| EBTORS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Due after more than one year | ||
| Other Debtors | 0 | 0 |
| Due within one year | ||
| Trade debtors | ||
| Other debtors | 22572 | 19464 |
| 22572 | 19464 |
17. CREDITORS: Amount falling due within one year
| 2024 £ Bank loans and Overdraft 0 Trade creditors 0 Other taxation and social security 11640 Other creditors 7554 Accruals and deferred income 0 19194 |
2023 £ 0 538 8879 11903 0 |
|---|---|
| 21320 |
18. CREDITORS: Amount falling due after one year
| Bank loans Other creditors |
2024 £ 10397 0 10397 |
2023 £ 14278 0 |
|---|---|---|
| 14278 |
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DIALOGUE SOCIETY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
19. PRIOR YEAR ADJUSTMENT
There is no prior year adjsutment this year
20. STATEMENT OF FUNDS
| Designated Funds General Funds General Funds-all funds Total Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Restricted funds-all funds Total of funds SUMMARY OF FUNDS General Funds Restricted funds |
Brought Forward £ 63768 63768 5400 69168 Restated Brought Forward £ 63768 5400 69168 |
Incoming Resources £ 209529 209529 116123 325652 Incoming Resources £ 209529 116123 325652 |
Resources Expended £ (202339) (202339) (121000) (323339) Resources Expended £ (202339) (121000) (323339) |
Transfers In/Out £ 0 |
Carried Forward £ 70958 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 70958 | ||||
| 0 | 523 | ||||
| 0 | 71481 | ||||
| Transfers In/Out £ 0 0 |
Carried Forward £ 70958 523 |
||||
| 0 | 71481 |
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DIALOGUE SOCIETY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
22. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
| Tangible fixed assets Debtors due after more than 1 year Current assets Creditors due within one year Creditors due in more than one year |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ 19882 0 19882 20382 0 0 0 0 81190 0 81190 84384 (19194) 0 (19194) (21320) -10397 0 -10397 -14278 |
|---|---|
| 71481 0 71481 69168 |
23. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
There was not any related party transaction with any of the trustees this year and last year.
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