OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

← Pars Media Trust

2023-12-31-accounts

PARS MEDIA TRUST

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

31 DECEMBER 2023

Charity Number 1146242 Company Number 07851180

PARS MEDIA TRUST FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

CONTENTS PAGES
Reference & Administrative Information 1
Trustees’ Annual Report 2 - 5
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities 6
Independent Examiner’s Report 7
Statement of Financial Activities 8
Balance Sheet 9
Cash Flow Statement 10
Notes to the Financial Statements 11 - 18

PARS MEDIA TRUST REFERENCE & ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Registered office: Unit 14,
Park Royal Metro Centre,
Britannia Way,
London,
England,
NW10 7PA
Trustees: Mr Malcolm Stuart Steer (Chairman)
Mr Samuel Bazmjou
Mrs Rachel Fadipe (Secretary resignation 28thApr 2024)
Mr Panayiotis Keenan (Company Secretary)
Dr Terence Ascott
Mr Patrick Wright (4thDec 2023)
Independent examiner: Joshua Kingston BSc ACA
Burton Sweet Limited
Chartered Accountants
The Clock Tower
5 Farleigh Court
Old Weston Road,
Flax Bourton,
Bristol, BS48 1UR
Bankers: Barclays Bank PLC,
Acorn House,
36-38 Park Royal Road,
London, NW10 7JA
Triodos Bank,
Deanery Road,
Bristol BS1 5AS
Solicitors: Wellers Law Group LLP (incorporating Cooke Matheson Solicitors),
7-8 Gray's Inn Square,
Gray's Inn,
London WC1R 5JQ

1

PARS MEDIA TRUST STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Structure, Governance and Management

PARS Media Trust is an incorporated charity limited by guarantee, company registration No 07851180 and Charity Registration No 1146242, operating within its Memorandum and Articles of Association signed on 30 September 2011 and registered with the Charity Commission on 17 November 2011.

All remuneration for key management and other employees of PARS Media Trust is based on the HAY system. The HAY system is based on measuring the job against three elements which are deemed to be common in all jobs, know how, problem solving and accountability and a regular survey of how these elements are rewarded in a representative group of companies in the country.

Governance

The Charity is governed by its Trustees meeting regularly in committee. During 2023 we did not have any resignations of Trustees and one new trustee joined the board, Mr Patrick Wright.

The process of recruiting new Trustees is the following:

Each Trustee serves for a term of three years and then are subject to re-election. There is no limit set to the number of terms a Trustee can stand for.

The process of induction and training are intended to ensure that individual trustees are enabled to being as much added value to the work of the board as their personal background, experience and skills equip them to do. New Trustees are provided with information about the charitable company together with a copy of the PARS Media Trust staff handbook.

Meetings are held virtually and in the PARS Media Trust premises, where all the Trustees can meet and spend time with the employees.

Aims

The Charity's Object is the advancement of the Christian faith, to be carried out in furtherance of the Statement of Faith set out in clause 8 of its Articles.

The PARS Media Trust Trustees have agreed a joint ministry agreement with and are represented on the SAT-7 PARS Board. SAT-7 PARS is a ministry division of SAT-7 International and is represented on the SAT-7 International Council. Both SAT-7 PARS and the SAT-7 International Council legally execute their international work through the Cyprus registered company, SAT-7 Media Services Ltd.

2

PARS MEDIA TRUST STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Achievements in 2023

3

PARS MEDIA TRUST STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Activities in 2023

During the year the Trustees met three times. The meetings were held both through Zoom and face to face, for those able to attend. Mr Panayiotis Keenan as Executive Director of SAT-7 PARS continues to meet regularly with the PARS Media Trust staff through video calls and in person visits. During such visits he advises, reviews plans for the future commissioned programmes and projects for the operation. In 2023, the hours of live programming were 6.5 hours per week. The number of different programmes produced for broadcast, both live and pre-recorded, from the PARS Media Trust studio totalled 349 hours.

In 2023 we continued introducing and implementing the new operational goals that were set by the SAT-7 International Council for 2023 and onwards. The operational goals are mentioned regularly through meetings that are held for all staff, so all can understand and work together to reach the agreed goals. Also, the goals are considered and reviewed during separate appraisal / goal setting meetings for each staff individually. Each producer was asked to think about how they could incorporate the goals into their programmes and to then return with a plan on how to roll these out within the given budget for the coming year. Some of the goals are shorter term and some longer term, therefore both were taken into consideration in planning ahead. By introducing some of the goals into PARS Media Trust programmes it will make a difference in the appearance and content of the programmes, with the goal to attract new viewers. The success of this can only partly be measured by the response from online viewers. With the countries we broadcast to having many security and internet restrictions it is not possible for us to obtain accurate reports through research or only via the responses we receive from viewers of the satellite broadcasts. A combination of focus groups, viewer feedback and departmental meetings are held to brainstorm and plan for the objectives and the measurement of their success.

Financial Review and Results

The financial activities of the charity during the year have been focused on developing the range of programmes and taking further the work of recording and live transmission of programmes in Farsi. The programmes have been sold to SAT-7 Media Services and a total of £642,085 was received in the year. The charity ended the year with net assets, now in use with a value of £200,597 including general funds of £152,432.

The above figures are a result of the expansion of the PARS Media Trust operations. The expansion was in the areas of diversity and new programme segments, enhanced content which required more consultants and freelancers. Regular meetings were held with the SAT-7 PARS Executive Director, and the Finance and Programming departments to review commissioning of productions for the following month and longer term, looking at each quarter.

Reserves Policy

The trustees have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets (the "free reserves") held by the charity should be sufficient at the end of any calendar month to meet the planned working requirements of the charity for the next one to three months. In 2024 the planned working requirements are budgeted to be on average £50,000 per month. The trustees are of the opinion that this level is adequate to ensure that the trust continues at a sustainable level.

At the balance sheet date, the charity had free reserves of £152,432. It also held a designated fund of £48,165 which is represented by the fixed assets of the Charity.

4

PARS MEDIA TRUST STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Risk Management

During the year the Trustees carried out an appraisal of the major risks facing the charity to ensure that measures were in place to mitigate them. Further work has taken place on the risk register.

A risk assessment document has been completed and we are awaiting feedback from Grant Thornton so we can update with their recommendations. The document will then be circulated to all staff and Trustees. The document once completed will be regularly revisited and updated according to environmental and structural changes.

In September 2023 PARS Media Trust renewed their contract with Croner, Health & Safety specialists. A representative visited the premises again to reassess the environment and provided feedback to our Administrator who has followed up on all recommendations.

Public Benefit

The trustees have complied with their duty under the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to Public Benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

Trustees

Mr Samuel Bazmjou was involved in broadcasts and as a Programming Consultant and during 2023 received a remuneration of £8,800.

Through the financial reports the Trustees have confidence that the charity remains a going concern and will be able to continue its studio recordings and broadcasts.

Future Plans

In 2024 the Charity aims to:

5

PARS MEDIA TRUST

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Statement of Trustees Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company [and the group] and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable [company/group] for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company [and the group] and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees have prepared this report in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees.

Malcolm Steer

Chairman of PARS Media Trust

Date:………………. 11 July 2024

6

PARS MEDIA TRUST INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Pars Media Trust

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

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 ACA Burton Sweet Limited Chartered Accountants The Clock Tower 5 Farleigh Court Old Weston Road Flax Bourton Bristol BS48 1UR

Date: 11 July 2024

7

PARS MEDIA TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Note
Income from:
Charitable activities
Television production income
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
2
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure) for the period
3
Total funds brought forward
12
Total funds carried forward
12		 Total funds
2023
£
642,085
642,085
605,511
605,511
36,574
164,023
200,597		 Total funds
2022
£
542,056
542,056
542,474
542,474
(418)
164,441
164,023

All movements in both the current and comparative years are in unrestricted funds.

The Charity has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the year as set out above.

All of the activities of the Charity are classed as continuing.

The notes on pages 11 to 18 form part of these financial statements

8 Page

PARS MEDIA TRUST

BALANCE SHEET

----- Start of picture text -----
AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 Company number: 07851180
2023 2022
Note £ £
Fixed Assets
Tangible fixed assets 6 48,165 55,249
Current assets
Debtors 7 7,389 6,199
Cash at bank 177,522 122,055
184,911 128,254
Creditors : Amounts falling
due within one year 8 (32,479) (19,480)
Net current assets 152,432 108,774
Net assets 200,597 164,023
Unrestricted funds
General funds 13 152,432 108,774
Designated funds 13 48,165 55,249
Total funds 200,597 164,023
----- End of picture text -----

For the year ending 31 December 2023 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors responsibilities

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476,

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

11 July 2024 These financial statements were approved by the trustees on…......................... and are signed on their behalf by:

Malcolm Steer Chairman

The notes on pages 11 to 18 form part of these financial statements

9 Page

PARS MEDIA TRUST

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Note
Net cash inflow/ (outflow) from operating activities
10
Non-operational cash flows:
Investing activities
Purchase of fixed assets
Net cash inflow/(outflow) for the year
11
Cashflow Restrictions		 2023
£
63,910
(8,443)
(8,443)
55,467		 2022
£
63,901
(30,654)
(30,654)
33,247

Charity law prohibits the use of net cash inflows on any endowed or other restricted fund to offset net cash outflows on any fund outside its own objects, except on special authority. In practice, this restriction has not had any effect on cash flows for the year.

The notes on pages 11 to 18 form part of these financial statements

10 Page

PARS MEDIA TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

1 Accounting policies

The charity is a public benefit entity as defined under FRS102.

I. When donors specify that donations given to the Charity must be used in future accounting periods, the income is deferred until those periods;

II. When donors impose conditions which have to be fulfilled before the Charity becomes entitled to use such income, the income is deferred until the pre-conditions have been met.

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

Studio fixtures and fittings 10% straight line Studio equipment 10% - 20% straight line Office equipment 10% straight line IT equipment 20% straight line

11 Page

PARS MEDIA TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

1 Accounting policies (continued)

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both the current and future periods.

12 Page

PARS MEDIA TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

2 Expenditure on Charitable activities

Direct costs
Production
Broadcasting
Salaries
Gross salaries
Employer's NIC
Pensions
Other staff costs
Support costs
Travel & subsistence
Hospitality & gifts
Software
Studio maintenance and cleaning
Legal and professional fees
Depreciation
Rent and storage
Utilities
Office supplies
Telephone & internet
Printing, postage and stationery
Insurance
Loss on sale of fixed assets
Sundry costs
Governance costs
Total costs		 Total funds
2023
£
182,887
3,161
186,048
292,625
20,268
7,261
9,422
329,576
9,802
261
1,851
14,032
1,061
15,527
31,303
5,627
1,329
3,137
104
892
-
2,453
2,508
89,887
605,511		 Total funds
2022
£
146,396
10,503
156,899
241,502
14,843
5,571
692
262,608
8,087
357
2,807
22,668
1,020
48,442
27,831
3,485
1,028
1,827
227
931
410
1,647
2,200
122,967
542,474

13 Page

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PARS MEDIA TRUST

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

3 Net income/(expenditure) for the period

This is stated after charging:

----- Start of picture text -----
|||| |---|---|---| |Total Funds|Total Funds| |2023|2022| |£|£| |Depreciation|15,527|48,442| |Independent examiner's fee:| |For independent examination|1,100|1,100| |For preparation of statutory accounts|1,280|1,100| |Staff costs and numbers| |The aggregate payroll costs were:| |Total Funds|Total Funds| |2023|2022| |£|£| |Wages & salaries|292,625|241,502| |Social security costs|20,268|14,843| |Pensions|7,261|5,571| |Other staff costs|9,422|692| |329,576|262,608|

----- End of picture text -----

4 Staff costs and numbers

The remuneration and benefits received by key management personnel were £45,400 (2022: £35,011) for the year.

No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000.

The average weekly number of employees during the year was as follows:

----- Start of picture text -----
|||| |---|---|---| |2023|2022| |No.|No.| |Number of staff|13|12|

----- End of picture text -----

5 Taxation

No provision is made for Corporation Tax, as the Charity is able to claim full statutory exemption subject to the proper application of all its charitable resources.

14 Page

PARS MEDIA TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

6
Tangible fixed assets
Studio Fixtures
& Fittings
£
Cost
At 1 January 2023
237,286
Additions
-
Disposals
-
At 31 December 2023
237,286
Depreciation
At 1 January 2023
236,974
Charge for the year
62
Eliminated on disposal
-
At 31 December 2023
237,036
Net book value
At 31 December 2023
250
At 31 December 2022
312
7
Debtors
VAT reclaimable
Other debtors
8
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income
Other liabilities
Taxation and other social security		 Studio
Equipment
£
200,022
4,132
-
204,154
162,768
9,336
-
172,104
32,050
37,254		 Office
Equipment
£
11,949
-
-
11,949
6,977
1,011
-
7,988
3,961
4,972
2023
£
7,240
149
7,389
2023
£
15,949
7,691
1,955
6,884
32,479		 IT
Equipment
£
55,901
4,311
-
60,212
43,190
5,118
-
48,308
11,904
12,711		 Total
£
505,158
8,443
-
513,601
449,909
15,527
-
465,436
48,165
55,249
2022
£
4,476
1,723
6,199
2022
£
7,556
7,511
4,413
-
19,480

15 Page

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

PARS MEDIA TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

9 Commitments under operating leases

At 31 December 2023 the charitable company had total minimum commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:

2023
Land &
Buildings
£
Within one year
27,000
Within 2 to 5 years
60,750
10
Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash inflow from operating activities
2023
£
Statement of Financial Activities: Net movement in funds
36,574
Depreciation
15,527
Increase / (decrease) in creditors
12,999
Decrease / (increase) in debtors
(1,190)
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
-
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities
63,910
11
Analysis of changes in cash during the year
2023
2022
£
£
Cash at bank and in hand
177,522
122,055
2022
2021
£
£
Cash at bank and in hand
122,055
88,808		 2022
Land &
Buildings
£
27,000
87,750
2022
£
(418)
48,442
(5,447)
20,914
410
63,901
Change
£
55,467
Change
£
33,247

16 Page

PARS MEDIA TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

12
Movement in funds
Unrestricted funds
Designated fund
General funds
Total funds
Prior year comparative
Unrestricted funds
Designated fund
General funds
Total funds		 At
1 Jan
2023
£
55,249
108,774
164,023
At
1 Jan
2022
£
73,447
90,994
164,441		 Income
£
-
642,085
642,085
Income
£
-
542,056
542,056		 Expenditure
£
(15,527)
(589,984)
(605,511)
Expenditure
£
(48,442)
(494,032)
(542,474)		 Transfers
£
8,443
(8,443)
-
Transfers
£
30,244
(30,244)
-		 At
31 Dec
2023
£
48,165
152,432
200,597
At
31 Dec
2022
£
55,249
108,774
164,023

The designated fund represents the net book value of fixed assets in use by the charity, up to the extent of funds being available for designation. Depreciation including loss on disposal is charged against this fund and transfers represent additions to and disposals from fixed assets during the year and any adjustment required regarding the over designation of unrestricted fund.

13 Analysis of net assets between funds

As at 31 December 2023
Unrestricted funds
General funds
Designated funds
Prior year comparative
As at 31 December 2022
Unrestricted funds
General funds
Designated funds		 £
-
48,165
48,165
£
-
55,249
55,249
Tangible
fixed assets
Tangible
fixed assets		 Cash held
£
177,522
-
177,522
Cash held
£
122,055
-
122,055		 £
(25,090)
-
(25,090)
£
(13,281)
-
(13,281)
Other net
assets
Other net
liabilities		 Total
£
152,432
48,165
200,597
Total
£
108,774
55,249
164,023

17 Page

PARS MEDIA TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

14 Company limited by guarantee

The company is limited by guarantee and as such has no issued share capital. In the event of the company being wound up the liability of the members is limited to £1 each.

15 Related party transactions

Terence Ascott, a Trustee and director of PARS Media Trust, is also trustee and director of SAT-7 International Trust and SAT-7 Media Services Ltd.

Rachel Fadipe, a Trustee and director of PARS Media Trust, was also Secretary to both PARS Media Trust and SAT-7 UK Trust Ltd.

Panayiotis Keenan, a Trustee and director of PARS Media Trust, is an employee of SAT-7 Media Services Ltd and SAT-7 PARS Executive Director.

The charity received television production income from SAT-7 Media Services Ltd of £642,085 (2022: £542,056).

Mr Samuel Bazmjou is a trustee and provided programming and broadcasting services at total cost to the charity of £8,880, (2022: £9,680). Trustees are permitted under the terms of the governing document to provide contracted services to the charity.

The total amount of expenses reimbursed to Trustees or paid directly to third parties in the year is £402 (2022 : Nil)

Other than those disclosed above there were no further related party transactions.

18 Page