Friends of Bereaved Families Forum (FBFF) Trustees’ Annual Report
Period From 1 June 2024 to 30 September 2025
Charity Number: 1118221
Friends of the Bereaved Families Forum (FBFF)
Trustees’ Annual Report
Period From 1 June 2024 to 30 September 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Contact Details | 1 |
| Charity Trustees | 1 |
| Objectives and Activities | 1 |
| Structure, Governance and Management | 2 |
| Trustee Recruitment | 2 |
| Achievements and Performance | 2 |
| Financial Review | 4 |
| Future Plans | 5 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 7 |
| Receipts and payments accounts | 8 |
Contact Details
Friends of Bereaved Families Forum (FBFF)
Charity Number: 1118221
Dymotts Cottage, Frogham Hill, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 2HW
Tel: 07720080166
Email: info@ukfbff.org Website: https://www.familiesforum.co.uk
Social media: Instagram @parentscircleuk, Facebook @parentscircleuk
Charity Trustees
1 Dr Caroline Elton Chair 2 Diana du Luart Secretary 3 Rev Ruth Adams 4 Jess Brandler 5 David Goldberg 6 Lady Gilda Levy 7 Rabbi Daniel Smith
Objectives and Activities
(A) To promote racial and religious harmony by advancing education and promoting dialogue and understanding between Muslims and Jews in Britain, Palestine and Israel.
(B) To promote the preservation of public order for the benefit of the public in Palestine and Israel by providing or assisting in the provision of services for mediation and conciliation between people who have suffered the loss of a family member due to the current conflict; and
(C) The relief of poverty and/or sickness of people in Palestine and Israel who have suffered the loss of a family member due to the current conflict.
Our activities support the work of the Parents Circle – Families Forum (PCFF), a joint IsraeliPalestinian organisation comprising over 800 families who have each been bereaved as a result of the ongoing conflict. Despite their profound losses, these families reject revenge and violence, choosing instead to advocate dialogue with the other side in pursuit of reconciliation and lasting peace.
In the UK, many people feel strongly aligned with one side of the conflict and believe that the other side has no interest in peace. By bringing together Palestinians and Israelis who have paid the highest price in this conflict, we aim to demonstrate that reconciliation is possible. This work plays a crucial role in improving relations between Jewish and Muslim communities in the UK.
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We raise awareness and funds to support PCFF in building bridges between the two communities through dialogue meetings, parallel narrative experiences, youth summer camps, women’s group activities, and other initiatives.
Structure, Governance and Management
The charity is unincorporated and governed by a trust deed. During the year, the trustees decided that the work of the charity could best be carried out through a charitable incorporated organisation and a CIO was established to take over this work from 1 October 2025. A separate report will be filed for the CIO. Accordingly this Trustees’ Report and accounts represents the final year of operation of the unincorporated charity (charity number 1118221); the same activities will continue within Friends of Bereaved Families Forum CIO (charity number 1212596).
Trustee Recruitment and Appointment
No new trustees have been appointed during the period covered by this report.
Achievements and Performance
Appointing Development Manager
Starting on 1 October 2024, following a thorough interview process, we appointed a part-time (20 hrs pw) Development Manager. We were well-positioned to fund this role, having held additional reserves at the end of the previous financial year. In addition to coordinating events, the Development Manager manages communications across our website, social media channels, and newsletter, maintains contact with existing and potential donors, and undertakes ad hoc administrative tasks. She has made considerable progress in expanding our supporter base in the UK and re-engaging existing supporters through these channels and events.
Media Coverage
One of the highlights of this year was the live BBC Breakfast Interview arranged by FBFF with Tim Muffett and bereaved PCFF members Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan, which aired on 7[th] October 2024. The interview provided a valuable publicity opportunity, as BBC Breakfast typically attracts over
1 million viewers nationwide. The interview not only helped raise awareness of PCFF’s work but also generated donations in support of our work.
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Key Event
Another highlight this year was the live screening of the 20th Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Ceremony – one of the largest peace events jointly organised by Israelis and Palestinians in history, focused on shared remembrance and reconciliation, and hosted by our parent charity, Parents Circle Families Forum (PCFF), in Israel and Palestine. The ceremony was live streamed worldwide on 29[th] April 2025, and FBFF hosted a sell-out screening at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace in central London. We also expanded our network and support base by partnering with charities whose missions align with ours, including UK Friends of Standing Together and the Alliance for Middle East Peace.
Donations & Legacy
In February 2025, the community at Radlett Reform Synagogue made a generous donation of £5,562 after our Chair, Dr Caroline Elton, spoke about FBFF’s work at the synagogue.
In March 2025 we received a generous bequest of £10,000 from the estate of the late Reverend Brian Shackleton to be used as a grant to PCFF for ‘peacebuilding and reconciliation work with young adults in Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel’. This bequest has been earmarked to support the PCFF’s Young Ambassadors for Peace programme in 2026.
CIO
Considerable work has also taken place preparing for the charity to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Approval was given by the Charities Commission in March 2025, creating a new charity with registered number 1212596. The charity to which this report relates ceased activities at midnight on 30[th] September 2025, and the formal transfer of assets and liabilities to the CIO took place on 1[st] October 2025. The CIO has a 31st December year end to match that of our parent charity, PCFF. Its trustees and charitable purpose are exactly the same as those of the unincorporated charity.
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Financial Review
We extended the financial period of this charity so that it runs from 1st June 2024 to its closure date, 30th September 2025.
During the financial period we transferred £31,500 to PCFF. These funds were used as follows:
----- Start of picture text -----
Allocation of Funds Transferred to PCFF
£10,000
£14,500
£7,000
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Contribution towards PCFF staff salaries
Contribution towards travel / accommodation at PCFF Palestinian members' seminar 17 - 18 May 2025
Contribution towards It's Time Peace Conference on 9 May 2025
Towards the end of the financial period the trustees and the Development Manager began organising a week-long visit by two Israeli and two Palestinian members from the PCFF, scheduled for November 2025. Preliminary costs of just under £3,500 are included in these financial statements.
At the end of the period, the charity’s financial position was healthy. The reserves stood at £47,824, of which £37,824 were unrestricted. The restricted reserves of £10,000 represent the bequest from Reverend Shackleton mentioned above, held for expenditure in 2026. We made a substantial grant to the Parents Circle, as described above.
The charity aims to keep six to twelve months’ revenue expenditure in reserves. Revenue expenditure during the 16 months covered by these financial statements was approximately £40,000, equivalent to about £30,000 for one year. We retained just under £38,000 unrestricted funds, rather more than one year’s worth of recent costs. This high retention is deliberate, as we intend to continue expanding our activities in the near future. To this end, the first major event that FBFF has organised for a while will take place in November 2025 and will be reported on in the first set of financial statements of the new CIO.
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Future Plans
UK Events and Programmes
Towards the end of the financial period we started planning a week-long UK visit from four bereaved Israeli and Palestinian PCFF members, from 12[th] to 19[th] November 2025, to re-engage existing supporters, raise awareness of our work, and generate funds for the charity. The PCFF members will share their stories of loss, hope, and the path forward, conveying PCFF’s core message of dialogue and reconciliation to a range of UK audiences. During the tour, dialogue meetings will be held at places of worship and educational institutions and host our charity fundraising dinner, our flagship event for raising both awareness and funds. We are also exploring opportunities for press interviews and private donor meetings. A detailed report of the visit will be included in the first Trustees’ Annual Report for the new CIO.
On 24[th] January 2026, we will hold a dialogue session as part of Christian Aid’s webinar, Prayers for Peace in the Middle East , where one Israeli and one Palestinian member from the PCFF will share their powerful stories with the audience.
We will be holding a live screening of the 21st Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Ceremony on 20th April 2026. By showcasing this powerful event, we aim to share PCFF’s message of dialogue, reconciliation, and peace with a wider and more diverse audience across the UK this year.
We also plan to provide financial support for PCFF’s Young Ambassadors for Peace (YAP) programme in 2026. This initiative will train and educate 25 bereaved Israelis and Palestinians, aged 18 - 27, to become the next generation of peace leaders. Our support for the programme will be made possible through the generous bequest of the late Reverend Shackleton.
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Declaration
Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:
Print name Daniella Acker pO Designation Treasurer Pp Date 13 February 2026 Pp
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Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Friends of the Bereaved Families Forum
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Friends of the Bereaved Families Forum (the Charity) for the period ended 30 September 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Charity 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 Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records
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.
Joshua Kingston BSc. FCA
Burton Sweet Chartered Accountants The Clock Tower 5 Farleigh Court Old Weston Road Flax Bourton Bristol BS48 1UR
13 February 2026
Date: …………………………
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FRIENDS OF THE BEREAVED FAMILIES FORUM (F.B.F.F.) CHARITY NO: 1118221
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER 2025
| Year ended 31st | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period ended 30th September, 2025 | May, 2024 | ||||
| Unrestricted funds Restricted funds | Total | Restated | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| INCOME | Notes | ||||
| Donations from individuals and via funding platforms | 1 | 61,166 | 10,000 | 71,166 | 69,308 |
| Donations raised from events | 576 | - | 576 | - | |
| Other events income: ticket sales and contributions to costs | 1,777 | - | 1,777 | 477 | |
| TOTAL | 63,519 | 10,000 | 73,519 | 69,785 | |
| EXPENSES INCURRED | |||||
| Bank charges and donation handling charges | 865 | - | 865 | 340 | |
| Website, internet | 9,461 | - | 9,461 | 4,699 | |
| Staff costs | 20,000 | - | 20,000 | - | |
| Admin/marketing/communications | 947 | - | 947 | 5,500 | |
| Event costs | 5,845 | - | 5,845 | 2,564 | |
| Insurance | 651 | - | 651 | 561 | |
| Legal & professional | 1,680 | - | 1,680 | - | |
| Office equipment | 400 | - | 400 | - | |
| Sundries | 450 | - | 450 | 38 | |
| Grants to Parents Circle Families Forum (PCFF) | 40,299 31,500 |
- - |
40,299 31,500 |
13,702 30,000 |
|
| TOTAL | 71,799 | - | 71,799 | 43,702 | |
| NET (EXPENDITURE)/INCOME | (8,280) | 10,000 | 1,720 | 26,083 | |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |||||
| Opening balance | 46,104 | - | 46,104 | 20,021 | |
| Net (expenditure)/income for the year | (8,280) | 10,000 | 1,720 | 26,083 | |
| Closing balance | 37,824 | 10,000 | 47,824 | 46,104 | |
| FRIENDS OF THE BEREAVED FAMILIES FORUM (F.B.F.F.) | |||||
| STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2025 30th September, 2025 |
31st May, 2024 | ||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | Unrestricted funds Restricted funds £ £ |
Total £ £ |
|||
| Cash at bank | 37,824 | 10,000 | 47,824 | 46,104 | |
| Total assets | 37,824 | 10,000 | 47,824 | 46,104 |
NOTES
- Restricted donation: Grant from the estate of the late Rev Brian Shackleton to be used by PCFF in fostering reconciliation with young adults 2. By 30th September 2025, the charity donated all of its net assets and funds to Friends of Bereaved Families Forum CIO (charity number 1212596). This charity has the same objectives. The activities previously carried out by Friends of Bereaved Families Forum (charity number 1118221) will continue within the new CIO.
I hereby certify that the Statement of Financial Activities for the period ended 30th September 2025 and the Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 30th Setember 2025 are in accordance with the underlying records.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees on …............................ 13 February 2026
Daniella Acker Treasurer
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