Charity Registration Number: 1158604
OLDHAM INTERFAITH FORUM (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation) TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ending 31[st] March 2023
OLDHAM INTERFAITH FORUM
CONTENTS
| Members of the Board and Professional Advisers | 2 |
|---|---|
| Trustees Annual Report | 3 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 4 |
| Receipts and Payments Accounts | 5 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 |
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OLDHAM INTERFAITH FORUM
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS
| Registered Charity Name | Oldham Interfaith Forum |
|---|---|
| Charity Number | 1158604 |
| Registered Office | 40 Union Street West |
| Oldham | |
| OL8 1DL | |
| Trustees | Jitendra Bhimji Kara |
| Rev Philip Thomas Sumner | |
| Abdul Basit Shah | |
| Rev David Austin | |
| Mohammed Tufail (resigned 19/01/23) | |
| Rev Howard Guest Sutcliffe (resigned 19/01/23) | |
| Ravji Patel (appointed 19/01/23) | |
| Betsy Jones (appointed 19/01/23) | |
| Accountants | Community Accounting Lancashire C.I.C. |
| Foxfields | |
| 9 Norley Close | |
| Chadderton | |
| Oldham | |
| OL1 2RA | |
| Bankers | The Co-Operative Bank |
| PO Box 250 | |
| Delf House | |
| Southway | |
| Skelmersdale | |
| WN8 6WT |
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OLDHAM INTERFAITH FORUM TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[ST] MARCH 2023
The trustees present their annual report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year to the 31[st] of March 2023.
Objects
The Forum operated informally within the Oldham Metropolitan Borough for a number of years before becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with a constitution dated 7th January 2014 and registration with the Charity Commission on 18th September 2014. Its objects are:
“the promotion of religious harmony for the public benefit by:
(a) educating the public in different religious beliefs including an awareness of their distinctive features and their common ground to promote good relations between persons of different faiths;
(b) promoting knowledge and mutual understanding and respect of the beliefs and practices of different religious faiths”.
The trustees have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit, and discuss this at our trustees meetings where we plan and make decisions for the carrying out of our activities to which the guidance is relevant.
Structure
Membership is open to each localised faith community in Oldham, whose representatives are entitled to attend general meetings of the Forum. Operational management is undertaken by a Steering Group, consisting of the Trustees and a small number of other members. The work of the Forum is carried out by the two members of staff with the assistance of volunteers.
Funding and Reserves Policy
The Forum has always depended largely on grant funding, provided (up to 31st March 2023) by Oldham MBC (£36K) and the Lottery (Reaching communities fund), Some extra funds were received this year for providing Covid 19 vaccine centres in places of worship. Reserves vary according to the timing of grant receipts, but the aim is to have reserves at least equal to three months’ expenditure.
Activities
The last year has seen the Oldham Interfaith Forum put on two major events to build understanding and cohesion in the Borough. One was a shared Iftar during Ramadan, and the other was the annual celebration of the Festival of Light. We also engaged with almost 4000 pupils and their teachers from across the Borough of Oldham either delivering workshops or enabling visits for pupils to places of worship. Once more we exceeded the target set for us by the Local Authority several times over. During the year, we have had to assist schools or colleges in providing appropriate internal spaces for prayer.
The Women Growing Together group which comes under the umbrella of the Forum organised several events during the year. These have been very successful in enabling dialogue.
These are, of course, just the headlines of our year’s work. So much is done under the radar to maintain cohesion and to respond quickly and appropriately to any rises in tension.
The report of the members of the board were approved by the board on the 10[th] of January 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
Ravji Patel Trustee
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OLDHAM INTERFAITH FORUM
REPORT TO THE MEMBERS ON THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF OLDHAM INTERFAITH FORUM
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[ST] MARCH 2023
We report on the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 set out on pages 6 to 8.
Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
The charity’s trustees consider an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the 2011 Act, and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility as independent examiner to:
-
~ examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act
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~ follow the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act, and
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~ to state whether particular matters have come to my attention
Basis of Independent Examiners Report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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 of disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters.
The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
Independent Examiners Statement
I have completed my examination for the year ended 31 March 2023.
I can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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~ accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act or
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~ the accounts do not accord with the accounting records to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
16[th] January 2024
Miss Jacqueline Bird F.M.A.A.T.
Community Accounting Lancashire C.I.C. Foxfields 9 Norley Close Chadderton Oldham OL1 2RA
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OLDHAM INTERFAITH FORUM
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[ST] MARCH 2023
| Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2023 2023 Notes £ £ RECEIPTS Grants and Donations 2 51,000 40,000 Other Income 50 - Interest Received - - TOTAL RECEIPTS 51,050 40,000 PAYMENTS Salaries 59,222 1,080 Festival Of Lights 1,310 - Events 535 538 Covid-19 Work - 15,000 Mobile Telephones 691 - Office Costs 1,461 - Refreshments (Meetings) - - Travel Costs - - IT & Website 105 - Training - - Accounts Fees 662 - Payroll Costs 308 - Donations - - Sundries - - TOTAL PAYMENTS 64,294 16,618 Net of receipts/(payments) (13,244) 23,382 Cash funds at 1st April 2022 63,612 1,935 Cash funds at 31 March 2023 3 50,368 25,317 |
Total Funds 2023 £ 91,000 50 - 91,050 60,302 1,310 1,073 15,000 691 1,461 - - 105 - 662 308 - - 80,912 10,138 65,547 75,685 |
Total Funds 2022 £ 129,000 - - 129,000 56,983 270 846 47,500 649 4,886 180 - 149 - 662 288 - - 112,413 16,587 48,960 65,547 |
|---|---|---|
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OLDHAM INTERFAITH FORUM
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITES
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[ST] MARCH 2023
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | |
| 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| CASH FUNDS | 50,368 | 25,317 | 75,685 | 65,547 |
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
| LIABILITIES – fee for Independent Examination | £ | £ | ||
| Fee for the Independent Examination | 620 | 662 | ||
| Other fees paid to the Independent Examiner | - | - | ||
| 620 | 662 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on the 10[th] of January 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
Ravji Patel Trustee
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OLDHAM INTERFAITH FORUM
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[ST] MARCH 2023
1. Receipts and payments accounts
Receipts and payments accounts are statements that summarise the movement of cash into and out of the organisation during the financial year. In this context “cash” includes cash equivalents, for example, bank accounts where cash can be readily withdrawn to pay for debts as they become due.
2. Grants and Donations
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | ||
| 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Lottery Funding | 15,000 | - | 15,000 | 30,000 | |
| Oldham Council Funding | 36,000 | - | 36,000 | 61,000 | |
| Near Neighbours | |||||
| (Women Growing Together) | - | - | - | 3,000 | |
| Action Together - Oldham | |||||
| (Covid-19 Recovery Work) | - | 40,000 | 40,000 | 35,000 | |
| 51,000 | 40,000 | 91,000 | 129,000 | ||
| 3. | Fund Analysis | ||||
| Fund Name | Balance as at | Balance as at | |||
| 1st April | 31 March | ||||
| 2022 | Receipts | Payments | 2023 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted Funds | 63,612 | 51,050 | (64,294) | 50,368 | |
| Restricted Funds: | |||||
| Action Together - Oldham | |||||
| (Covid-19 Recovery Work) | - | 40,000 | (15,000) | 25,000 | |
| Near Neighbours | |||||
| (Women Growing Together) | 1,935 | - | (1,618) | 317 | |
| 1,935 | 40,000 | (16,618) | 25,317 | ||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 65,547 | 91,050 | (80,912) | 75,685 |
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