_“There can be no justice without peace, and there can be no peace without justice”_ _**Martin Luther King Jr.**_ **Annual Report GRASSRO** 2023-2024 ## **Acknowledgement of Thanks** GRASSROOTS is blessed to have the support of many funders, partners and volunteers, and we wish to say thank you for enabling our work to continue and grow: ## **Funders:** Church of England Diocese of St. Albans Luton Council of Faiths Methodist District of Beds, Essex and Herts National Lottery Community Fund – Awards for All Near Neighbours Programme Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton United Reformed Church Thames North Synod Westhill Endowment Fund ## **Partners:** Churches and Other Faith Communities in Luton Daughters of the Holy Spirit Ghar se Ghar Luton Council of Faiths Near Neighbours Programme Luton Council & Bedfordshire Police **Annual Report** 2023-2024 **Charity Registration Number:** 1163427 ## **Contents** |Message from The Revd Canon David Lawson (Chair, GRASSROOTS)
|Page 5| |---|---| |KEY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES|| |Annual Peace Walk 2023|Page 6| |Inter Faith Week Event held at St Albans Cathedral|Page 7| |Multi-faith Storytelling – Tales of Wonder & Wisdom|Page 8| |Swedish multi-faith delegation visited Luton|Page 9-10| |Inter Faith Week Event|Page 11| |Black History Month|Page 11| |World Council of Reformed Churches Consultation|Page 10| |Faith Leaders School Assemblies|Page 10| |Keech Hospice ‘Hare & Tortoise’ Trail – Peace Artwork|Page 13| |NHS Bedfordshire Chaplaincy Training Day|Page 14| |Faith Leaders concerned with issues impacting life in Luton|Page 15| |Global-National-Local Issues Impacting Life in Luton|Page 16-18| |Near Neighbours funded different Projects|Page 19-23| |OTHER EVENTS & ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED BY GRASSROOTS|Page 24-28| |Tribute to Sr Maire Hayes|Page29-30| |Financial Summary September 2023 – August 2024|Page 31| ## **Foreword by the Revd Canon David Lawson (Chair)** I began last year’s Foreword reminding us of the many complex and huge issues facing the world. Today the world is in a more dangerous and fragile state, or as Johny expressed it in a report to the Trustees: ‘The world seems a very dark and hostile place.’ The war in Ukraine grinds on, it is over a year since the October 7th attack in Gaza, with the conflict in the Middle East threatening to spread out of control. This last year has also seen the growth of far right political parties in Europe, and anti-immigration demonstrations and riots in many parts of the UK this summer. Nevertheless, Grassroots determined vision of engaging with the contemporary world is in no way diminished, continuing to work for a stronger and more cohesive, peaceful Luton. Inter-faith dialogue and co-operation is needed more than ever today. Grassroots laid the foundations of what is now the Luton Council of Faiths (LCoF), and we continue working closely with LCoF, and with the Luton Borough Council. There is also a facilitation of inter faith advisers across the C of E Diocese of St Albans, and last year’s inter faith event at St Albans Cathedral was organised jointly with Grassroots. It is wonderful to know that the event will be repeated in November 2024. The words of the Catholic theologian Hans Kung are more pertinent than ever: ‘There will be no peace among the nations, without peace among the religions.’ A highlight for some of the Trustees was a Spring walk from our offices through Luton arriving at the Guru Nanak Gurudwara, where we had an informative tour, learning about Sikh religious teaching and practices, ending with a splendid lunch there. In November 2024 the Catholic Bishop of Northampton, David Oakley, will also be treated to a similar tour of the town. Over the last few years, Grassroots has been invited to a number of international conferences organised by European churches. The presentations of our work have been highly acclaimed, giving us much encouragement as to the undoubted value of all that is happening across Luton in terms of strengthening community relations. Grassroots has also hosted a number of visitors to Luton, and one such this year was from the Diocese of Linkopping in the Church of Sweden. A multi faith group of over 30 people wanted to benefit from Luton’s experience of inter faith work and all that is being done to strengthen community relations, while promoting unity in diversity. The reaction to all that the group experienced was ‘ecstatic’, and hopefully their experience will enable them to translate something of what they learnt into their own particular context. I mentioned the demonstrations and riots that took place across the UK this summer. Thankfully Luton remained unaffected, though there have been profound concerns across all communities not just with what happened in the UK but what is also unfolding across the Middle East. The Annual Peace Walk in September, not only demonstrated the strength of community relations in Luton; it also acknowledged the crucial part played by Grassroots, the Luton Council of Faiths and Near Neighbours Programme over many years. It is with great sadness, that as I am writing this Foreword, we have learnt that Sister Maire Hayes has died. Sister Maire was a dedicated and committed member of the Grassroots team for many years, contributing so much in so many ways to the Grassroots programme. She was a member of the Catholic Justice and Peace Network, and was at the heart of the campaign to make Luton a Fairtrade town. We cannot but think of Sister Maire at this time and express our profound thanks for all she has contributed to the flourishing of the life and people of Luton. Elsewhere in the Annual Report there is a tribute to Sister Maire. The Annual Report as always gives a fuller picture of the range and variety of Grassroots commitment to the flourishing of Luton. We extend our deepest gratitude to the church bodies that fund us, as well as other funders. I am also hugely grateful to our Trustees for their insights and unstinting commitment to Grassroots. The last word of thanks but most certainly not the least goes to Johny, for his outstanding dedication to the work, and all he does so graciously and efficiently on behalf of Grassroots. - 5 - ## **Annual Report Overview Sep 2023 – Aug 2024** In our globalised, but divided and wounded world, we are seeing a general lack of good political leadership, and a lack of professionalism, integrity and accountability in the media and politics. The current political trends are inciting people with majoritarian, sectarian, and nationalist agendas, presenting minorities, immigrants, and refugees, as threats to the majorities. When held accountable for its corruption, failures, scams or scandals, most governments and political parties, either blast-the-past, or blame the opposition for political conspiracies against them, but as people, as communities, we must believe in change. We must recognise that in our divided and wounded world, the call and the need to become ‘one human race’, and the need to be ‘united not uniform’, has never been greater. We must learn lessons from all that has happened wrong in the past and try doing what is right in our present, to make a better future for all. It is bearing these thoughts in mind, we have held activities during the period Sep 2023 – Aug 2024 that have indeed brought people & communities together to recognise and celebrate the signs of hope in seeking a kinder world in which all may thrive. In this report, we have presented some key highlights; ## **KEY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES** ## **Annual Peace Walk 2023** In its 27[th] year, Luton’s Annual Peace Walk (led by Luton Council of Faiths, supported by GRASSROOTS and Near Neighbours Programme) continued to be one of the most popular multi-faith events in the town. While also commemorating the UN’s International Day of Peace (IDP), it attracted people of all ages from Luton’s diverse communities. Several dignitaries, who joined the event, included the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Susan Lousada, Mayor of Luton Cllr Yaqub Hanif, Luton MPs Sarah Owen & Rachel Hopkins, Bishop of Bedford Rt. Revd. Richard Atkinson and Cllrs. Javeria Hussain and Maria Lovell. People visited Catholic Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Luton Christian Fellowship, Turkish Mosque, and Guru Ravidass Sangat Luton. Primary School students and teachers gave presentations and shared their commitment to being an Eco-School, litter picking and planting trees. Sponsored by Near Neighbours Programme, CATALYST Youth Leadership & Mental Health Training graduates were awarded certificates. These young people shared their dreams for a better world and pledged to combat poverty and deprivation in our town. May all these hopes, aspirations, and commitments for a better world bear fruits! - 6 - ## **Inter Faith Week Event held at St Albans Cathedral** St Albans Diocese of Church of England, in partnership with GRASSROOTS Luton, held for the second consecutive year, the Inter Faith Week Event at St Albans Cathedral on 6th Nov 2023. About 125 people from different religious and those of no religious backgrounds were welcomed from Beds, Herts & parts of the London borough of Barnet, covered by St Albans Diocese. Talking of this event, the Diocesan Inter Faith Advisers (DIFAs), Reverend Canon David Kesterton (Luton) and Reverend Tony Rindl (Watford) said we were struck by the connections in the language used by the different faith representatives on the event theme “Strangers & Co-Pilgrims – Sharing together how encounter with those of different beliefs strengthen our own faith.” Representatives of 8 different faiths shared from their own perspective how their religious teachings led them to view the value of others and to respect those of different beliefs. There was a strong sense of unity of language and purpose, as each speaker placed the value on every member of the human race and the creation itself. - 7 - ## **Multi-faith Storytelling – Tales of Wonder & Wisdom** Luton has suffered from religious extremism, racial and religious hatred propagated by far-right groups in the last 15 years or so. Scarcity of resources means there is little capacity to invest in our young people, who are in danger of being easily influenced by extremist or dominant polarising and divisive narratives, steeped in racism and religious intolerance. We therefore applied and received funding from the Westhill Endowment Fund, National Lottery Community Fund – Awards for All, and Near Neighbours Programme for an interactive and participatory multi-faith storytelling theatre project exploring ‘golden rule’ stories from Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Judaism. The project instilled in young people values of conviviality, mutual respect and environmental stewardship. Over 12000 pupils (Years 3-6) have participated in the storytelling workshops in the last 2 years and all demonstrated an appreciation for the opportunity to explore a range of universal humanitarian values and character virtues through wisdom tales from different faith traditions: Hinduism, Judaism, Sikh, Christianity and Islam, dramatically and interactively performed by a professional storytelling theatre artist. This appreciation really came through in the way that at least a dozen pupils in each school enthusiastically shared their reflections on the values that they recognised in the stories' characters and on the shared estimation of these values (e.g. courage, generosity, trust, peace, perseverance, hope, faith, joy, determination, honesty, love, loyalty) across the different faith traditions. A pupil stated that though she was irreligious, she loved the humanitarian values promoted and celebrated in all stories. In a Facebook Post, Pioneer Trust managing quite a few Primary Schools, said, “All of our schools were privileged to receive the wonderful series of multi-faith stories, exploring key values that exist within different faiths. It encouraged the children to treat others, with respect, fairness, love and empathy. A wonderful experience for the pupils involved.” Another school teacher Grietje Reid said, “The stories are such a good example of how all the common values are present in all religions and the children recognised them too. I would recommend these performances to any school.” Given the super diversity of Luton and the town's predominance of self-identifying faith communities in an increasingly polarised world, these Multi-faith Storytelling Workshops helped to underpin difference with an edifying and unifying wellspring of inspiring common spiritual and ethical values. The enacted stories have spelled inter-faith and intercultural understanding in the most creative way, especially to young audiences. The project has left a lasting impression in young people’s minds. - 8 - ## **Swedish multi-faith delegation visited Luton** There were several days of rioting in Stockholm, Malmö, Linköping and Norrköping after far-Right group Stram Kurs planned and held Qu'ran burning demonstrations across the country in 2022. A news headline in May’24 suggested that Sweden could be on the 'brink of a civil war' as country is gripped by anti-migrant violence. It was to mitigate risks posed by such socio-political developments in Sweden that a group of 30+ Swedish guests and visitors from churches, mosques, municipality, police, voluntary organisation, young people in the cities of Norrköping, Motala and Linköping, visited Luton from 11-14 Nov'23. They wanted to learn from Luton; - How to develop inter faith work initiatives and strengthen inter faith relations - How to tackle the growth of far-right activities and its after-effects and adverse impact on inter-faith and inter-community relations - How in Luton, and in the UK, communities, government & Police, both locally and nationally, strive to work for peace and reconciliation and strengthen community cohesion while also acknowledging and promoting unity in diversity The Mayor of Luton Cllr Yaqub Hanif (pictured above) welcomed and greeted them all at Luton Town Hall. Later, Adam Divney (pictured above), the Service Director for Citizen Engagement, gave an excellent presentation outlining the Council's vision for the growth and prosperity of Luton. The Swedish guests were thrilled by the wonderful hospitality when they visited different places of worship in Luton. They learnt a great deal during their field visits to Discover Islam Centre, Luton Council’s Social Justice Unit, Bedfordshire Police Community Cohesion, The Feast, Grassroots & Near Neighbours Programmes. The fact that Luton made an impact upon the Swedish group is a testament to everyone in Luton working to promote peace and understanding across communities. - 9 - The Church of England Diocese of St Albans and The Church of Sweden Diocese of Linkopping have a long-standing partnership. During this visit, the Diocese of Linkopping Bishop Marika Markovits and the Diocese of St Albans Bishop Alan Smith signed a special covenant (pictured left below) strengthening link between the two Dioceses. And the Very Reverend Jo Kelly-Moore, the Dean of St Albans Cathedral presented a gift to The Revd Mattias Bähr, the Dean of Linkopping Cathedral (pictured right above). Additionally, Ryad Khodabocus of the Luton Council of Faiths illustrated practical examples and stories of interfaith community work & collaboration with an impressive visual slide show. Canon Peter Adams, Director of St. Mary's Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, spoke about the difficulties the far right presents, and shared how community mediation helped in some really trying periods. The Swedish group also observed a meeting of Luton’s faith leaders (pictured below) and were astounded to see religious leaders having an honest and open conversation on both local and global issues that affect life in Luton. We in Luton certainly have a wealth of positive and inspiring stories to share. Long may we continue to work together for peace and harmony in Luton and beyond, and may our cooperation, friendships, and relationships across faiths and cultures, continue to grow. The Chair of GRASSROOTS Programme, Revd Canon David Lawson, said, “The group will return to Sweden with much to think about and hopefully in time translate something of the Luton experience into their own particular contexts.” Sujel Miah of Luton Council of Mosques said, “We are not about unity of opinion, but we are committed to the unity of purpose. We are voices of justice, compassion and peace. When people, communities, refugees are demonised and dehumanised, when a group of people are targeted, because of their race, faith or ethnicity, we, as people of faith, are called to act prophetically. The Swedish Group Coordinator Susanna Löfgren said, “Everyone in the group has been so inspired and I think that this trip has proved to be just the injection of energy and tools that our local networks needed.” - 10 - ## **Inter Faith Week Event** During Inter Faith Week, a special community storytelling event was held at Luton’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Stopsley. Stories are powerful and have a lasting impact on people. Using the local Award-winning Khayaal Theatre, Grassroots, jointly with Luton Council of Faiths, and Near Neighbours Programme delivered a multi-faith storytelling performance consisting of character and virtue-nourishing stories from different faiths. Speaking of this event, the then Mayor of Luton Cllr Mohd. Yaqub Hanif said, “In our world full of negative stories, it is good to have an event like this, where we can share positive stories from different faiths and cultures. Very often religion gets blamed for the world’s problems. It is actually not religion, but the ‘misuse of religion’ by a few people that creates problems. As we have watched and heard the stories from different faiths and cultures this evening, I am sure we have seen how religion only teaches good things. I hope the stories we have heard today will inspire us all to become better human beings and will encourage us to make our town and our world a better place for all.” ## **Black History Month** During the Black History Month, we supported two key events. One was the 75th-anniversary commemoration event of the Windrush Generation in which a dozen Windrush local Heroes were honoured, including the two women (pictured right) Mrs Lorna Markland and Cllr Jacqueline Burnett, for their years of relentless services in representing and serving the black communities in Luton. And the other event was the Black Culture Market at which there were a variety of stalls (pictured left) offering a range of creative and interesting products and materials, celebrating the contributions of black businesses and social entrepreneurs who add colour, vigour, and spice to the British cultural landscape. The organiser Dee Bailey said that Black History Month is not just a time for us to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contributions of black people to British society; it is also a great opportunity to inspire and empower future generations.” - 11 - ## **World Council of Reformed Churches Consultation** Just before Christmas 2023, it was a pleasant surprise to be invited to the Global Consultation in Haus Villigst, Schwerte, Germany 11-15 December led by the Lutheran World Foundation & the World Council of Reformed Churches on the theme “A Protestant Theological Approach to Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB)”. Seventeen theologians, church leaders, and mission practitioners reflected on a significant rise in the documented violations of religious rights and freedoms in our world, and agreed to lend a Protestant voice to the ongoing discourse on FoRB. The consultation was about striking a delicate balance between religious freedom concerns and tolerance to avoid making religious liberty absolute or disregarding religious beliefs altogether. The consultation utilised the “See, Discern, and Act” methodology. Contextual and thematic presentations provided an opportunity to see the issues more clearly. Theological reflections allowed for communal discernment on the issues through both Lutheran and Reformed lenses. Discussions in small groups and plenary led to clarity on possible future actions. In its presentation, GRASSROOTS highlighted the positive manifestation of the FoRB, as wellas the unpleasant aspects, especially when these freedoms are defined in an ‘extreme(ist) versions’. Recognising Martin Luther King’s statement that before you finish breakfast, you’ve depended on half the world, GRASSROOTS reminded that we are all ‘vulnerable’ & ‘dependent’ on others, and only when we come together, we can become the force of an ocean. ## **Faith Leaders School Assemblies** Thanks to our wonderful and supportive panel of local faith leaders who like previous years have been helping us to deliver a series of primary school assemblies on popular demand. It aims at fostering a positive environment and mutual respect amongst young people when they see the local faith leaders demonstrating how, despite their differences, they work together for the common good in our town. "I enjoyed the opportunity to learn about different faiths and beliefs to my own. This assembly was fantastic and I was inspired by it," a student said. A teacher commented “The similarities between the faith leaders (e.g. believing in one God), faith leaders talking about their experiences in different countries and now all living together in Luton), religious clothing used to show what they wear, was all fascinating and hugely educational for us all in our school.” - 12 - ## **Keech Hospice ‘Hare & Tortoise’ Trail – Peace Artwork** In partnership with the Luton Council of Faiths, we supported the Keech Hospice Short Tail Trail appeal. (https://keech.org.uk/whats-on/the-short-tail-trail/) This trail featured over 90 hare & tortoise big and small sculptures, placed across Luton’s key landmarks, streets, and open spaces from 6th July – 12th September 2024. It brought colour and energy to the town. With the help and donations from Luton’s diverse faith communities, we sponsored 4 sculptures, costing £5,000. After collecting the plain sculptures, we invited faith leaders, and young people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds to colour the sculptures with peace artwork (as pictured below). Our sculptures artwork theme was ‘Peace’ – Peace amongst humans and the ecosystem with bright colours representing diversity. A message on Hare was from a primary school pupil – _“Peace will always grow. If bees can spread their pollen, humans can spread peace"_ . Faith leaders message on the Tortoise stated _"Slow and steady steps for peace"_ . Under Hare’s neck, the caterpillar evolution to a butterfly symbolises the evolution of life and signifies new beginnings. Butterflies are thought to represent change and transformation, comfort, hope, and positivity. This was yet another example of good practice of inter faith cooperation showcasing how Luton communities can live well together and work for the common good. In a thank you message, Keech Hospice said that you and all those who worked with you should feel extremely proud of the positive and creative artwork on sculptures that you created. It helps to show Luton as we know it, as a warm, kind, generous and inclusive place to live and work. - 13 - ## **NHS Bedfordshire Chaplaincy Training Day** We facilitated a group of Chaplains from different ethnic and national backgrounds, serving at the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to visit different places of worship in Luton. At Guru Nanak Gurudwara Luton (pictured left below), Nelson Mandela’s quote was remembered, "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that gets to his head; if you talk to him in his own language that goes to his heart". Trust Chaplain Vanessa Bradley said these visits give chaplains confidence to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, not only with their heads but also with their hearts, even if it is simply greeting someone from another culture in their language. At the Bury Park Jamie Mosque (pictured right above) it was said if we want to love our neighbour, we must know who they are; and it is much better we meet with people and learn from them who they are, rather than learning about them from the books, media or stereotypes. In a hostile environment of mistrust and fear, it is easy to view all those who are different from us, as a threat or enemy. It is therefore important that we create opportunities for people to experience the welcome and hospitality of one another and help people discover that those different from us are not ‘enemies’; they are our ‘allies’, because they share the same aspirations as we do, which are to be loved, valued and to work together for the peace and prosperity of all. A Chaplain on the training day said, “My understanding of these religions from adherents’ perspective will enable me to provide them effective referral, if not partial religious care when situation arises in my healthcare chaplaincy role. The idea of “humanity first” seems projected in all religions. GRASSROOTS Presentation on Luton’s multi faith context has opened my eyes to continued efforts, towards sustainability of peaceful co-existence among people of different faith in Luton, and the need to see humanity first, before religion in healthcare chaplaincy services.” Another Chaplin said, “I really enjoyed the warm welcome and hospitality at all places of worship. I appreciate the work done by GRASSROOTS which illustrates the effort required to encourage and engender respect and collaboration between all of us.” - 14 - ## **Faith Leaders concerned with issues impacting life in Luton** With Luton communities’ ties worldwide, many international issues affect communities locally, raising stress, anxieties, and potential community unrest and tension. GRASSROOTS through Luton Council of Faiths (LCoF) plays a crucial role in acting as a buffer across faith communities and also a listening ear on the ground and helping communities and leaders to navigate through tense, contentious and uneasy local, national and global contexts. We facilitate regular meetings of faith leaders and invite different places of worship to host these meetings, which seek to bring together members of the different faith communities and those with no particular faith affiliation for dialogue, cooperation, understanding, trust, and for greater social cohesion and community development in Luton. We understand peace is not just about the absence of conflict and violence; it is also about constantly seeking to address issues of people's well-being. We therefore provide advice, consultancy, information dissemination, and networking to all public & voluntary sector agencies, particularly about the initiatives concerned with people's overall well-being. Keeping the big picture in mind and ensuring that peace and harmony in our town are held at all times, we encourage faith communities to work together with the local authority, Police & NHS. We understand that listening and building bridges is an ongoing work. With the international, national, and local events and issues unfolding, the terrain keeps changing and it gets sensitive, so we constantly monitor communal tensions and work closely with local leadership to mitigate any risks. - 15 - ## **Global-National-Local Issues Impacting Life in Luton** ## **Israel-Palestine Conflict** The world currently seems a very dark and a hostile place, because of over 110 wars and armed conflicts according to the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law & Human Rights. Whether it is territorial disputes, control of resources, power struggles, ideological differences, or economic competition, seeing the conflicting interests between nations escalating into armed & bloody conflicts is extremely distressing. We have all been appalled by the attacks in Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza has caused immense civilian suffering. Here, in the UK, we experienced record levels of anti-Semitism, anti-Jewish hatred. On the other hand, many are feeling that anti-Semitism needs redefining as all pro-Palestinian stance is currently misconstrued as being antiSemitic and it certainly needs to be separated from criticising the Israeli government’s actions. We also witnessed in the last year, a deplorable and deeply concerning steep rise in Islamophobia – which is the fear of and hatred for Muslims People often stereotype Muslims as a geopolitical threat or a source of terrorism. In a joint statement with the Luton Council of Faiths, GRASSROOTS expressed condolences and prayers for those who faced death, injury and are suffering in this ongoing conflict. It reminded that as Jews, Christians and Muslims with shared Abrahamic heritage and those from different or no particular faith, we are called to uphold the highest of morals, unite in humanity and pray that reconciliation, peace and justice prevails for everyone. It called upon everyone to stay united in our longing for a peaceful solution which does justice to all involved in the region. Hundreds gathered at Wardown Park Bandstand, to grieve and to pray for the peace in the Holy Hand, in a Vigil organised jointly by the Luton Councils of Mosques and the Churches Together in Luton and supported by the Luton Council of Faiths. A number of young people, Christian-Muslim, and other faith leaders called for a transition from lamentation to action for ceasefire, and for peace and justice in the Holy Land. Gulie Butcher, a Quaker and the Vice Chair of Luton Council of Faiths said, “Luton town came together as one at this prayer vigil – watching as the silent stars go by the hopes and fears of all the years. For in this world where there's war, we have watched violence, injury, loss of life, grief, inhumanity. We have felt, overwhelming sadness, disbelief, grief, anger, and helplessness. As the dark night breaks in and we all join together in prayer for the love of power to be overcome by the power of love, let's hope that nations speak peace unto nations and there is peace on earth, and goodwill to all humankind transcends all borders and boundaries.” - 16 - ## **Knife Crime in Luton** In a local Knife Crime incident in Oct’23, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Luton. We networked with the Bedfordshire Police, Luton’s many schools, the Luton council, and also with Luton’s diverse communities and faith groups to come together to express our collective shock and deep sadness at this tragic event. A silent candle light prayer vigil was held in Wardown Park. ## **Southport Attacks & Summer Riots** The horrifying killings of innocent children in Southport in Jul’24 left everyone shocked, but it has been even more upsetting to watch the subsequent civil unrest, the riots and the deplorable violent events in cities and towns across the UK targeting minority communities and the police. Far-right extremists hijacked the tragedy of Southport from a grieving community for their own hateful racist and Islamophobic agenda. The Bedfordshire local authorities, Police & Fire Authority jointly stated "Bedfordshire is a safe, multicultural county. We, and all our communities, reject extremism, violence and those who seek to divide us.” We welcomed a multi-stakeholder meeting convened by the Luton Council, to discuss how to tackle misinformation of the potential rioting in Luton. With everyone else, we shared our deep concern and solidarity for anyone being targeted by hateful narratives. Together with others, we proclaimed that Luton will always be a no place for hate. We facilitated C of E Bishop Richard Atkinson to write a letter to Luton’s Mosques and all faith leaders, condemning the Southport killings, the subsequent riots, and the hate mails & threats to the Muslims/Mosques in Luton. Luton Council of Mosques acknowledged the overwhelming support from individuals, organisations and leaders across Luton and beyond. This solidarity, especially in times of fear, is a powerful force. The town of Southport set an example by coming together to condemn the violence, support the victims and clean up the mess after the riots, but they must not be the only ones; we all must play our part too. And that is why in Luton, we invited people to make a short solidarity video with someone of a different background, sharing their stories of friendships and living well together, and upload it on #weareluton. These videos can be watched on https://www.facebook.com/groups/LutonFaiths/ - 17 - ## **Al Jalal Masjid (Mosque) Incident** An individual intentionally defaced the banner outside a Mosque, and painted a red cross behind it. This malicious act understandably caused distress among members of the congregation, particularly in the climate of heightened Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiments. In its message to the Mosque, GRASSROOTS & Luton Council of Faiths said that such malicious acts are distressing for all those, who want to live well together in peace and harmony, and also for those who continuously work hard to strengthen community cohesion in our town. It is important that we keep meeting, dialoguing, and strengthening our relationship with one another. GRASSROOTS also facilitated the Bedfordshire Police, and the C of E Bishop Richard Atkinson to visit the Al-Jalal Mosque (as pictured below). ## **Faith Matters Articles in Luton News** Luton often gets negative publicity, so we have continued writing positive news, particularly about Luton’s faith communities, which are making a significant positive contribution in keeping the values and virtues alive in our town. A few examples can be seen below. - 18 - ## **NEAR NEIGHBOURS PROGRAMME** Huge, complex issues face us all today - climate change, migration, war, poverty, famine, racism, religious hatred, the rise of far right politics. In addition, we have had the unstoppable cost of living crisis and the country still feeling the effects of the pandemic, followed by political & economic instability. Also a disproportionately high number of refugees have been placed in Luton in the recent years, which has remained a concern for Luton’s welcoming and generous communities. In light of all these challenges, it is fair to say that the message and ethos of Near Neighbours Programme is vital in reminding people that we all are created to be interdependent, just like the ecosystem is and that we have no other option, but to transcend the barriers of our race, religion, gender, ethnicity and nationality, and live well together in mutual solidarity with one another. In the last year, besides supporting several events in Luton, Near Neighbours Small Grant Funding supported 12 great community project applications submitted from Luton. Some of the successfully delivered projects are listed below; ## **STEP FORWARD STORIES OF LUTON by Att10tive Social Enterprise** It brought together nearly 200 people, mainly youth, from different religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, to tell their stories, and celebrate Luton’s heritage, using art and videos. Nearly a dozen young people presented their videos that they prepared for ‘MyLuton’ Video Competition. Councillor Zanib Raja said “The event and exhibition featured diverse artwork by local artists capturing the essence and spirit of our town. The project celebrated the beauty, diversity and vibrancy of Luton.” Montell Neufville, the Managing Director of Att10tive said “This was the result of months of hard work. And this wouldn't have been possible without our sponsors like Near Neighbours. ## **REACHING A NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD by Edible High Town** It ran 16 gardening activity sessions with volunteers and opened up one new community plot in an area, after codesigning it with residents. In addition to running social events, the project ran 2 coffee mornings to meet neighbours and give residents a safe and beautiful place to socialise. Konni Deppe, the Project Coordinator said, “Working in this new neighbourhood has been incredibly rewarding - to open a garden on a fly tipping hotspot, turning it into a colourful little allotment, and then sharing the first homegrown potatoes was great.” Gardener Dee said, “This project has been very rewarding, turning a small neglected piece of land into something so lovely from growing flowers to vegetables bringing the people of the community together, making new friends.” - 19 - ## **JOINING THE DOTS by Feast Youth Project** It ran 7 dialogue encounters for young people skilling them to disagree respectfully. They reflected on the value of listening to one another without judging each other. A participant said, it strengthens friendship and the work of creating cohesion and understanding between different communities. Another participant said, there are probably many people like me out there that feel helpless and can’t speak about their feelings, while these sessions open a gate to be empowered in day to day life and make a real change. It is nice to hear other people’s perspectives. It is interesting to see how different people answer the same question. ## **OPEN DAYS & AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS by Luton Food Bank** To tackle food insecurity by intertwining community engagement with educational events, Luton Food Bank hosted Open Days, engaging with over 150 people to understand operations and volunteer opportunities, fostering inclusivity and trust-building. It also ran Awareness Campaigns on food insecurity, and promoted intercultural dialogues and cooking workshops, encouraging participation from various ethnic groups to share culinary traditions. Many families in the community grapple with economic hardships, experiencing unemployment, financial instability, and limited access to resources and opportunities. A prevalent issue is the inadequate access to nutritious food. This project tackled these challenges by capitalising on community's strengths. ## **COMMUNITY READY, STEADY, COOK PROJECT by Shri Guru Ravidass Sangat** Based on Langar (free Sikh communal meals), this project provided cooking classes for those of non-Sikh faiths, Including Eastern European communities, Asylum Seekers and new communities looking to make Luton their home. As different communities worked together, not only they learnt about each other’s cultural and religious differences, and developed friendships understanding and community harmony, it also helped to improve the quality of life of many from the local disadvantaged communities. It also helped organisations that may not have ever considered working together. They reprinted their recipe book to enable the project to continue. - 20 - ## **LETS EAT TOGETHER by The Big Iftar Luton** Let’s Eat Together campaign involved over 3000 participants and 16 different events held at High Schools, Luton Town Football Club, and at other community settings, such as the Dunstable Downs Visitors Centre. It was an ambitious initiative that brought together several community partners, faith leaders, schools and places of worship. It was important to reach out to young people and women. It donated all proceeds from the campaign to the Luton Foodbank, to provide for the most vulnerable in the town. The Project Manager Mohammad Tariq said, “It was a celebration of Luton’s diversity, unity and community spirit. The opportunity to bring together so many people from around Luton’s diverse communities was a real blessing”. ## **TALES OF WONDER & WISDOM – MULTIFAITH STORYTELLING by Khayaal Theatre** This interactive and participatory multi-faith storytelling theatre project explored ‘golden rule’ stories from Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Judaism. The project helped to instil in young people values of conviviality, mutual respect and environmental stewardship. It helped to underpin difference with an edifying and unifying wellspring of inspiring common spiritual and ethical values. Over 1700 pupils participated in the workshops and all demonstrated an appreciation for the opportunity to explore a range of universal humanitarian values and character virtues (e.g. courage, generosity, trust, peace, perseverance, hope, faith, joy, determination, honesty, love, loyalty and more) through wisdom tales dramatically and interactively performed by a professional storytelling theatre artist. ## **FOOTBALL DIVERSITY TOURNAMENT by Luton All Stars FC** The biggest vibrant multicultural football diversity tournament in Luton history drew over 1500 participants, fostering not just talent, but also promoting community spirit through sport, celebrating the richness of diverse cultures, faiths, languages, and heritage. This was a young people led event – empowering young people with skills for life. The tournament featured intense competition, culminating in the crowning of deserving winners in each age group. Participants and spectators alike were treated to thrilling matches and a vibrant atmosphere. The Chair of the Club, Mr Kwesi Edubatey said, “We are grateful to the Near Neighbours Programme for sponsoring the tournament. It helped us to promote social integration, by breaking down barriers, and tackling social exclusion and economic disparities, by providing equal opportunities to everyone to train and participate in the tournament.” - 21 - ## **CULTURAL HARMONY THROUGH EXCHANGE by Next Generation Scheme** It hosted six workshops involving 50 young & adults from diverse backgrounds joining together to learn and share about each other’s cultural traditions, food, religious and folk stories, and arts to understand and respect each other better. Plan activities like cultural displays and music performances to celebrate our differences and work together on creative projects. 80% of participants said they learnt two new cultural practices or traditions and 70% of participants formed better connections with people from other cultures. This prevented men women from potentially being drawn into the politics of despair, and made the community stronger and more united ## **BETTER HEALTH FOR ALL by Oasis Centre** This new ‘English for Health’ Course brought together women from different cultural, religious and language backgrounds in order to break down barriers between them and to learn the English language mainly to access health care and NHS services. Most women saw A&E as their first choice, but this course helped them to know appropriate NHS services to access. Learners also made 2 trips to build confidence with their English speaking – a visit to the fire station for safety information and a shopping trip. Project Manager Gill Boyd said this health literacy programme empowered those with limited English to get the adequate healthcare support they and their families need. It also helped in tackling health inequalities pointed out during the Covid-19. ## **CYCLE ROOTS by Revolution Fitness** This project delivered 12 ‘learn to cycle’ sessions facilitated by cycle coaches from Evolve Cycling Network. These took place in 3 blocks of 4 sessions for 10 women each, so by the end of all 12 sessions, 30 women of different ages were enabled to learn how to ride a bike with confidence. Unexpectedly, a few elderly participants, over 60 years, also joined. This was inspirational. The project led 3 local bike rides: at Wardown Park, around the Lewsey area, and along the Luton Busway. This helped build confidence for new cyclists and also prompted other cyclists to organise bike rides in their local parks too. - 22 - ## **BISCOT PEACE AND WELLBEING HUB by St Andrew’s Church** St Andrew’s Church set up a ‘Peace and Wellbeing Hub’ project in partnership with the Doctor’s Surgery next-door to the Church, local councillors and other local stakeholders. It launched a community gardening project, health and wellbeing drop-ins, and regular community events involving a wide variety of faiths, ethnicities and cultures. It’s ‘Spring Festival’ attracted over 200 people from the local community. The Vicar Revd Luke Larner said, “Running this project has brought a new lease of life both into our Church and our local community. We have no community spaces or parks in our ward, and so opening up our premises and gardens to our local community has meant a flourishing of local relationships and a new sense of solidarity in our neighbourhood. ## **LUTON ORCHARDS PROJECT by Edible High Town** GRASSROOTS has been important in helping to sustain Edible High Town (EHT) since its start in 2016. It connected EHT to Luton’s faith communities, provided thoughtful advice on working in Luton’s diverse communities, and helped EHT find funding for projects through Near Neighbours. To help EHT build capacity, particularly to run the Luton Orchards project, GRASSROOTS, through Near Neighbours Programme, supported EHT to enrol in a 9-month course on Community Orcharding. The course helped to deepen and formalise EHT skill base to work with people around sustainability, biodiversity and to help Lutonians connect with nature around them. It covered fruit tree management skills such as pruning, planting and grafting, but also extended into areas such as: - Considering climate change in the context of urban orchards - Working with community groups to help them care for their orchards - Analysing the potential orchard sites and planning successful orchards Edible High Town Project Coordinator Konni Deppe presented GRASSROOTS Trustees each with a bottle of apple juice made of Luton Apples. - 23 - ## **OTHER EVENTS & ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED BY GRASSROOTS** _Hindu Festival Diwali Celebrations in Luton_ _Luton in Bloom Garden Competition (Prize Winners)_ _Peace Garden Tree Plantation in memory of those died in Covid-19_ _East Fest – Celebrating Eastern European Cultures in Luton_ _University of Bedfordshire Chaplain Helen Burgess after her Commissioning Service_ _University of Bedfordshire Annual Remembrance Service_ - 24 - ## **OTHER EVENTS & ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED BY GRASSROOTS** Dr Sabeel Ahmed (L), Executive Director of ICNA (Islamic Circle of North America) visited our offices Jewish Festival Chanukkah Celebrations at Luton United Synagogue Revd. Michael Anokye (2[nd] from right), the newly inducted Minister at The Olive Tree Church Different faith communities welcomed the Peace Light flame brought from Bethlehem at All Saints _University of Bedfordshire Annual Carols by Candlelight Service_ _Holocaust Memorial Day Service at University of Bedfordshire_ - 25 - ## **OTHER EVENTS & ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED BY GRASSROOTS** _All Saints Church Refugee & Asylum Seekers’ Drop-in & Support Group_ _Bahai Nawruz (New Year) Celebrations Reinforced oneness of humanity_ _Multi faith gathering at the Big Iftar Event showing mutual respect and solidarity_ _Catholic Priests visited Luton’s different places of worship strengthening bonds of friendships_ **----- Start of picture text -----**
University of Bedfordshire
Annual Carols by Candlelight Service
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_GRASSROOTS Trustees visited Guru Nanak Gurudwara_ _Good Friday Walk of Witness by Bury Park Beech Hill Council of Churches_ - 26 - ## **OTHER EVENTS & ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED BY GRASSROOTS** _Luton Council 2040 Vision Conference_ _Blessing of River Lea by St Andrew’s Church_ _Loving Leagrave Campaign by St Luke’s Church Community Cafe_ _World Day of Prayer Service prepared by Women of Palestine_ _International Mother Language Day Online Event by Purbachal – Eastern Sky Bangladeshi Cultural Group_ _Sikh Guru Shri Ravidass Ji’s 647th_ _Birthday Celebrations_ - 27 - ## **OTHER EVENTS & ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED BY GRASSROOTS** _Beech Hill Methodist Church 90[th] Anniversary Celebrations_ _Buddha Day Celebrations by the Luton Sri Lankan Welfare Association (LSLWA)_ _Colours of Eid Festival_ _Lord Lieutenant’s Annual Service of Thanksgiving_ _High Street Leagrave Methodist Church 200[th] Anniversary Celebrations_ _Sri Lankan New Year Celebrations by the Luton Sri Lankan Welfare Association (LSLWA)_ - 28 - ## **TRIBUTE TO SISTER MAIRE HAYES** A former member of GRASSROOTS Staff Team, Sr Maire Hayes, died peacefully on Tue 5th Nov. She suffered from the aftereffects of a stroke. Sr Maire belonged to a Catholic Religious Congregation called “Daughters of the Holy Spirit”, and as a religious Nun, she went off to Chile at a time, when the country was suffering under Pinochet’s brutal military rule of political suppression through torture, murder, and exile. As a chaplain to the women political prisoners, Sr Maire came across a woman who became pregnant after repeatedly being raped by a prison guard. When this woman requested Sr Maire to ask the fellow prisoner (a doctor) for an abortion, the Dr replied, "She must bear a child for the revolution," and Sr Marie said, "For this I’d risk even my immortal soul." Sr Maire was indeed a brave and a courageous Daughter of the Holy Spirit. She never hesitated to take a stand for peace and justice in the world. Soon after 9/11, she arrived in Luton. She became the Inter Faith Coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton, and she carried out that role with great passion for nearly 20 years. She was a great supporter of our partner organisation, the Luton Council of Faiths, and she contributed significantly to inter-faith & cohesion work in Luton. She stood shoulder to shoulder with Luton's different faith communities in testing times. Her spirit of defiance to those attempting to undermine the stability and integrity of diverse communities in our town has left a lasting impression on us all. She was admired by many in Luton's diverse faith communities for her gentleness, humility, grace, astuteness, diligence, and the dignified way in which she contributed to life in Luton. Prof Zafar Khan, LCoF Chair of Luton Council of Faiths said, “Sr Maire had empathetic and engaging personality. We’ll sorely miss her. We are grateful for her life, her faith, and her selfless commitment to our town.” The Church of England’s Bishop Richard Atkinson called Sr Maire “a faithful servant of Luton and beyond”. The URC (United Reformed Church) Ex Moderator Revd Dr Andrew Prasad, said, “We have lost a passionate inter faith advocate. Her legacy must continue.” Sr Maire was also a trained teacher. So after coming back from Chile, Sr Maire, went on to support the work of Cardinal Newman School in Luton. The former Head Teacher Jane Crow said, “Sr Maire was diligent, hardworking, supportive but also genuinely interested in making a difference for the students. She had a lively intelligence and great sense of humour. She’d brighten up all our meetings. What a life and what a great female role model she was. Sr Maire was way ahead of her time!” Sr Maire also supported the work of a great charity called the Luton Irish Forum, whose CEO Noelette Hanley (present amongst us) said that Sr Marie was passionate for working cross community. She’d act out her values, and champion causes for common good. And that is so true, because Sr Maire laid the foundation of a Campaign, which was about Making Luton a Fairtrade Town. - 29 - As part of this Campaign Sr Maire was seen walking in the streets with Hindu & Muslim friends Mr. Thakor Morarji & Dr Anwer Usmani, holding in her hands, a 5-feet tall inflatable fairtrade banana, making a spectacle of herself, for the sake of promoting fairtrade & economic justice. Looking at such an effort collectively made by people from diverse faiths, many people would stop by say, “You are promoting so much more than just the fair trade. You are promoting hope for the world, not just for the fairtrade farmers & growers.” In the 25[th] Anniversary Celebration event of GRASSROOTS, Sr Maire promoted Fairtrade by wearing a Luton Boaters Hat and arriving in an Indian Tricycle Rickshaw, driven by our colleague Mr. Ryad Khodabocus, Head of Community Relations & Development at Luton Council of Faiths. Sr Maire also contributed as a member of the Roman Catholic National Justice and Peace Network (popularly known as NJPN). She also supported the work of CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development). She also supported the work of Near Neighbours Programme which brought neighbours of diverse backgrounds to work together. She led workshops and retreats introducing ‘Christ in Other Cultures’ using Jesus’s portrayal by artists from different parts of the world. We will always remain indebted for her support, guidance, and leadership in many different ways. We are grateful for her life, her faith, and her selfless commitment to people’s wellbeing in Luton and beyond. A Priest from the Church of Netherlands spent 6-weeks of internship at GRASSROOTS in Luton. She said, “I had little but very profound interaction with Sr Maire. She has left a lasting impression on me. She was a remarkable woman.” Dr Nazia Khanum – a Muslim woman activist in Luton said, “When I think of Sr Maire, I vividly recall her lovely face and strikingly pure sacred voice, like the sound of a bell. Her devotion to duty and fairness was remarkable. Her robust support for women’s empowerment was seen in action in women’s events like Precious Pearls, marking the International Women’s Day. May Sr Maire’s spirit of compassion and her spirit of courage-strength-resilience continue to inspire us all and keep us all united in our longing for peace, justice, and prosperity of all in our world! Most condolence messages we received have ended saying may she rest in peace, but those of us who know Sr Maire closely, would know that resting eternally would be suicidal for Sr Maire. Therefore, we say, continue to be at work, Sr Maire. Since you are liberated from the limitations of your physical body – fly & hover around, for you are a true Daughter of the Holy Spirit. Ahead of EDL (English Defence League) demonstration in May 2012, Sr Maire Hayes (in the middle) speaking at a Peace Rally held in the grounds of St. Mary’s Church in Luton, with Muslim & Sikh friends - 30 - ## **Financial Summary** ## **September 2023 – August 2024** |**Income**|**£**| |---|---| |Grants received|110,564| |Donations|4,692| |Interest and other income|8,688| |Sale of Fairtrade goods|10,936| ||134,880| ||| |**Expenditure – Charitable activities**|| |Advancement of Interfaith Relations & Community Development Work|70,258| |Near Neighbours|29,239| |Multi-faith Storytelling and Other Events|27,295| |Admin, Governance & Fundraising|16,360| ||| |Total|143,152| ||| |**Net Expenditure for the year**|| |Total|8,272| ||| |**Reserves at 31 August 2023**|| |Unrestricted (Designated)|57,895| |Restricted|5,058| - 31 - ## **Visit Our Website:** www.grassrootsluton.org.uk ## **Email Us:** admingrassroots@btconnect.com ## **Call Us:** 01582 416946 ## **Write To Us:** GRASSROOTS Programme 47 High Town Road Luton Bedfordshire LU2 0BW ## **Like / Follow Us Online:** www.facebook.com/grassrootsluton www.twitter.com/grassrootsluton **Charity Registration Number:** 1163427 - 32 - REGISTERED CHARITY NUfvIBER: 1163427 GRASSROOTS PROGILIMME FINANCIAL STATEMEIYTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Miller & C.0 Chartered Accountants 5 Impcrial Court Laporte Way Liiion Bedfordshire Lb4 8FE GIUSSROOTS PROGIL4MME CONTENTS OP THE FINANCL4L STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 Page Trustees. Annual Report Independent Exa(lllners' Report Statement of Financlal Activities Balanee Sh¢et Notes to the Financial Staternents io GRASSROOTS PROGIi4IWIIIE TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT for the Year Ended JI August 2024 Tbe Trustees present their report a]Ml the financial statements for tbe year ended 31 August 2024. The tn￿te¢S have adopted tlie provisiolls of the Statement of Recommended Practice ISORPI "Accounting and tieporting by Cbarities" in preparing the a[￿Ual report and f￿anCial stat¢m¢nts of the chariry. The fin&ncial statetnetlts have been prepared in ￿CordanCe witb the accounting policies sei out on page twelve and comply with the Charity's Constitution, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Reco￿[nellded Practice applicable to cbarities preparillg Iheir accounti in accordance with the Financial ReportitL Standard applicable ￿ the UK and Repllbli¢ of Lrelalld published in October 2019. This charity, Grassroots Programme CIO took over the assets of the fonner uttitkcorporated charity Grassroots Programm¢ (charity nuTnber 10574681 on I September 2016. Prior years, reports relating to charity number 1057468 tnay be obtain¢d from the office at the princtpal address. LEGAL Af4D ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS CHARITY NAME: Grassroots PrOgra￿￿e STA TUS: Charitable Incorporated Orgattisation Foundation Constitutioll. Regist¢red ConstittLtion and as a clwity on 04 September 2015. CHAIUTY NUMBER: 1163427 PIUNCIPAL ADDRESS.. 47 High Town Road Luton B¢dfordsbire LU2 OBW TRUSTEES AiYD OFFICERS: Thos¢ who served as ttusiees of the ¢harity during the year were as follows.. R¢v D Lawso Mrs J Bird Rev M Hindley R¢v P Horner Mrs R Tetlow Mrs S Marsden Ms D Purfield Mr B lioe (Chair) (R¢signed 31 December 2023) (S¢cretaryl (Treasurer} CHARJTY DIRECTOR.. Mr D Jonathan BAf4KERS: The Co-operative Bank Olympic House 6 Olympic Court Salford M8 2QP INDEPENDENT EL4MINERS: Miller & Co Chartered Accountsnts Statutory Auditors 5 Impeiial Court. Laporte Way Luton Bedforitshire LU4 8FE ORGANISATtONAL STRUCTURE Grassroots PrOgrall￿ne is an ind¢pendent charity. A board of tEUStees administers the charity. The ￿stetS are r¢sponsible for the overall control and management of the charity and meet on a regular basis. P&ge I GRASSROOTS PROGRAMTrIE TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT for the Yegr Ended 31 August 2024 PUBLIC BENEFIT The Imstee% confirn) that they have complied with Ibeir duty, set out the 2011 Chariry Act. to have due regard to Charity Commi5sÉon guidance on public benefii. RECRUITMENT AND APPOINT￿tENT OF TRUSTEES Trustees are appointed for a iemi of five years by a resolution of the trustees passed at a special meetitjg for which not less tha￿ 21 days, noiice bas been given. Urtder the terms of the Constitutioll, newly appointed tNstees are not entitled to acr as tNstees until they have signed, in the Tninute book of the tNsrees. a declaration of atceptance and willingness io act in the t￿￿tS of th¢ Charity. All the tTUStees are fatniliar with tbe work of th¢ chariry and all induction is performed for any new twstees. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES The Obl￿tS of the charity as set out ill the consti￿tion are as follows.. (11 To advallce education for the public b¢u¢fit in global issues to enable great¢r awareness of factors that will contribute to the r¢li¢f of needy victims of bre8¢h¢s of human rights in such ways that are charitable in law. (21 To advance religion and promot¢ und¢rstanding among Christians and those of other faitbs. (31 To provide opportunities for th¢ advan¢¢tn¢nt of educat20n among all ages. but particularly adults. in such ways that are chaEitabl¢ in law. (41 To provid¢ relief of the aged, infirni and poor. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE In order to achieve its objectives, the charity runs a number of Programmes and activities. During the year it ran the following speeific programmes and activities.. 'ORKING TOGETHER FOR PEACE & ttNITY In celebrating unity, diversity, and community by bringing individuals from diff¢rent backgrounds together. and in f0S￿￿ng a sen5¢ Qf togetherness, and promoting cultural exchanges, GIL4SSROOTS supported and promoted a tew big events: Desi Fest Luton | East Fesi Luton | Diwali in Luton | Luton in Bloom l Turk Fest l Big Iftar I Colours of Eid aTrd num¢rous other religioug and cultural festivities. We also supported activities during the BLaek History Month. Two key events. we supported illclude th¢ 75th- anniversary commettkoration of the Windrush Get]eration in which a dozen Windtush local Heroes frotn Luton w¢re honoured. And the other event was th¢ Black Culture Market at which there were a variety of st211s offering a range of creative and interesting products and materials, celebrating the contributions of black businesses and social entrepreneurs who add colour, vigour, and spice to the Britlsh cultural landscape. We also Commernorated the UN'S Intemational Day of Peace IIDPI by organising a multi-faith Peace Walk event ill the town, visiting different places of worship including 2 Churches, a Mosque, and a Gurudwara. At this evetjt. Near Neighbours ￿nded CATALYST Training Graduates were pres¢nted with their certificates. They shared their aspirations for a better world and their r¢solv¢ to combat poverty, deprivatiott, and other current problems in the town. During Inter Faith W¢ek IIFW) 2023, we held several activities. We coordinated exchange visits between different place5 of worship. In a Diocesan LFW eveot held at the Church of England St Albans Cathedral, we ittvited people from different faiths to reflect together on the thetne of "Strangers & Co-Pilgrim$ - Sharing how encounters witlL those of differeni beliefs strengthen our faith. Eiepresentatives of 8 dÉfferent faiths shared from their p¢rspwtiv¢s how their ieachings lead Ihetn lo view the valu¢ of oth¢r5 and to respect tho5¢ Of different beliefs. Stories are powerful and have a lasting impact on p¢ople. So, during this year's Inter-faith Week, using the 'losi art, of story-telling witlL th¢ local Award-winning Khayaal Theatre, we delivered a special ￿ul11-faIth storytelling perfortmnce consisting of character and virtue-nourishing stories from 4 ditTeretLt faiths. This was appealing, especially to young audiences. However, throughout the year. we rolled out Multi Faith Storytelling Workshops, supported by the Wesihill Foundation and the Awards for All Funding. We also supported Luton Council of Faiths to deliver 15 School Assemblies by a panel of multi faith leaders (Fn tbe theme how to make our town more respectful. Page 2 GRASSROOTS PROGiL4MME TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 We hosted a rnulti-faith gTOUP of over 30 Swedish guests and visitors for 3 day5 in Luton. We convened a Lutoll & Swedish Faith Le8d¢rs' Exchange meeting duiing Inter Faith Week. Ai this meeting, colleagues shared good practice$, exchanged ideas, and shared how to talk about difficult issues e.g. Israel-Palestine conflict. We also organised a number of field visits acknowledging and involving various oiher inter faith projects, initiatives, groups and organisaiions including the Polic¢ and the local authority- all focussing around the theme of strengthening cohesion in Luton. The other networking event we SUPPOffed was to Cotmect faith communities gnd the NHS BLMK (Bedfordshire, Luto and Milton Keynes) ICB Ilntegrated Care Board), previously known as BLMK CCG {Clinical CommissioTLing Group). We organised a multi faith Listening event for the ICB to improve health and care services in Luton. At the University of Bedfordshire Chaplaincy Commissioning Event. we coordinated different faith leaders to ¢ommit th¢ir support ro tbe Chaplaincy services, especially for the overseas S￿dents arriving in LutOTL from very diyerse backgrounds. We also helped with the multi-faith asp¢cts at the Chaplaincy-led Carols by Candlelight event and Remcmbranee Setvice. We facilitated a mulu-faith training day fgr th¢ B¢dfordshir¢ Hospital Chaplains and facilitsted workshops aT￿ visits to differ¢nt places of worship in Luton. We supportthl the multi-faith att¢ndall¢e and participation at Luton's Peace Garden tree plantatlgll events in memory of all those who di¢d of Covid-19 - Lord Lieutenant's Annual Servic¢ of Thanksgiving foT the voluntary orgatLisatioDs in Bedfordshire We support¢d and contributed to th¢ organising of the World Religion Day & the Holocaust Memorial Day (HMDI events in Luton. A Holocaust survivor shared a moving account of his painful story. He said this wasn't the fjrst genocide and sadly this wasn't the lasi. The human race is not good ai 'N¢v¢r Again,. Several civic dignitaries, including the Lord Li¢ut¢n&lli of Bedfordshire and members of Luton's diverse communities lit candles in memory of all those killed during the H(>locau5t and the subsequeni genocides. This year's Annual World Day of Prayer (WDP) materials were prepared by thc Christian women of Palestine. When it was prepared, no one for¢saw the terrible war that is currently raging. still the servic¢ material felt perfectly appropriate for the present time. One prayer in the service booklet read,. "God of Peace, we pray for a peaceful end to the ongomg SItt￿tion in Palestine. Wc also pray for ihe city of Jerusalem, sacred to the three religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Let th¢re b¢ tqllality, freedom of religion, freedom of movement and freedom of expression, GRASSROOTS supported and promot¢d the event, in the print media and social media too. May w¢ all continue to work for peace and justice in our world and bear with one another in loyel We also supported.. - A Bangladeshi cornmunity organisation call¢d Purbachal (meaning EAsiem Skyl 25tb At￿1Versary Celebrttion Event - Gll￿ Nanak Gurudwara colntnemorating its found¢r Sikh Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 554th Birth knniyersary C¢l¢bratiotiS Carols by Candlelight Event by Univ¢rsity Chaplaincy cdllcd Th¢ Tr¢¢house Chanukah C¢l¢brations hcld at Luton United SsTragogue. Peace Light Servirx St Luke's Café in promoting communal eating Shri Guru Ravidass Ji's 647th Birth Anniversary Celebrations 10th Big Iftar & Eid Events Good Friday & Easter Events - Bahai Nawruz (New Yearl Celebrations First-ever Sri Latdon (Sinhalese) New Year & Vesakh {Buddha Day) ¢el¢brations Beech Hill M¢thodist Church 90th Anniversary Leagtave High Street Methodist Church 200th Anniversary Launch of t(nife Angel- a 27-fotst sculpture highlÈ8htillg negative effects of violent knife crime on our communities GRASSROOTS supported the Luton Council of Faiths ILCOF) appeal to sUPPOrt The Xieech Hospice Short Tail Fundraising Trail. Ibttps.'Ilkeech.org.ukJwhats-onlthe-short-t2il-traiVI Ke¢ch Hospice Har¢ & Tortoise Sculptures were to be sponsored and with LCOF support, we brought divers¢ ¢ominunities togetber to paint the sculptures. This was yet another ¢xample of good practice of inter faith Cooperation, showcasing how Luton communities can live well together and work for the Common good. Page 3 GIL4SSROOTS PROGIum￿lE TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT ftyr the Year Ended 31 August 2024 P2rtner$hs Svith C of E DIFA Dioee$an Inter Faith Advisors We have been facilitating regular m¢¢tings of DIFAS (Diocesan Inter Faith Advisers}. We fomied the Diocesan tnter Faith Network (DIFN). It has now over 20 members. We contribllt¢d to the national C of E's P & E (Presence & Engagemeni) nenvork, particularly about our experiences of tackling issues and challenges caused by the Israel- Palestine conflict. We facilitated Bishop Richard's visit to different places of worship in Lutott, where faith leaders appreciated Bishop's visii and discussed with him, local and global issues and ¢oncerns impacting lives locally. World Council of Reformed Churehe5 WCRC Con5ultatitsft We were invited to attend and Sha￿ our inter faith community work story at the Global Consultation held in Haus Villigst, Schwerte. Gemiany 11-15 December 2023 led by the Luihcran World Foundation & the World Council of R¢fomied Churches IWCRCI on the theme "A Protestant Theological Approach io Frecdom of Religiort and Belief.. NEAR NEIGHBOURS PROGEL4MME GRASSROOTS has been hosting and adminisieTing the Ncar Neighbours (Wl Programme ID Luton for oY¢r 10 year5. Through its nutneFOUS projects and activities funded locally, NN helped communities to stay connected. espeeially as interfaith r¢lations have been strained due ￿ the ongoTng Isr2¢1-Palestine conflict. We Worked hard to ellcourage a total of 17 Near Neighbours Small Grant Funding Applications submitted from Luton. The 12 successful projects ￿nded by the Near Neighbour5 Programme ill Luton are listed below., Attlotive Luton- a social enteTprise helped young p¢ople celebrate Luton's diverse herithge. usillg art and videos Luton All Stars held biggest Diversity Football Tollrnament Edible High Tnaking High Town greener and more sustainable Feasi Project held 7 dialogue encounters for young people skilling them to disagree respectfully Food Bank diversifyillg its volunteer btse - Guru Ravidass Sangat South Asian Cookery Sessions for diverse c0￿[￿U￿1ty groups Inspire FM multi-faith engagement at the 10 Anniversary of Big Iftar Khayaal Theaire deliv¢r¢d ￿ulti faith story-tellillg sessions Next Generation Scheme delivered cultural exchang¢ workshops. promoting and celebrating diversity Oasis served wom¢n of diverse faiths and cultsres with English speaking with a focus oll accessing health 5¢rvices Revolutoll Fitness ran biking sessions for women of global majoriry beritage St Alldiew's Church B1￿0t Peace & Wellbeillg Hub BBC KIDIO I BIG WEEKEND This report will be incompl¢t¢, if we did not mcntion about the BBC Radio I's Big Weekend- a famous British annual music festival run by BBC Radio I, bringing World-class musicians to Luton's Siockwood Park for the first tirne. GRASSROOTS was invited to join on Sunday, at a special morning Bre&kfa5t Reception. We had opportuniry to onv¢Tse with Aled Haydn Jones, Head of BBC Radio l and also with tbe Director of Public Affairs. Over 100.000 festivalgo¢TS had flocked to see Ihis amazing weekend fijll of incr¢dibl¢ p¢rfornian¢¢s. During the performance, there were fir¢works. teaTS, smiles and a very special song just for Luton Town Football Club. It wa5 the perfect end to an epic week¢nd of music. The festival was a real ionic for the town. Estimates Suggest that the Big W¢ekend helped bring in £4 million for th¢ local economy. An Overview of Global National & Local Issues Im aetin Life in Luton The world currently seerns a very dark and a hosiile place. because of over 110 wars and atmed conflicts according to the Geneva Academy of tntemaiional Humanitarian Law & Humall EiiglLts. Whether it is territorial disputes, control of resourc¢s, power stTuggles, ideological differences, or economic competition, seeing the cotlflicting interests between naiions escalating into armed & bloody cottflitts is extremely distressing. We bave all been appalled by the inllnense civilian suffering in Israel-Palestine. Here. in the UK. we saw record levels of anti-semilism, anti-J¢wish batred, and also a d¢plorable attd deeply conceming rise in attti-muslim hatred Islamophobta. A lop London school was taken to high court over prayer ban for Muslim5. At a local mosque in Luion, an tndividual intentionally defaced a mosque banner, and painted a red cross behind it. This malicious act understandably caused distress among members of the c(Trngregation, parti¢ularly in th¢ clitnate of heightened LsLamophobia and anti-muslim se￿timentS. It is good that Luton's faith leaders have talked about 1srael-Palestine as a political collflict, and not as a conflict betweell tbe Jews & Muslims. even though it nMy seem and f¢¢1 and projected tb*t way. At the end of last year. a prayer vigil was held in Luton for the peace in Israel- Palestine. All hop¢d and aspired ftsr peace and an end to ¢onfli¢t in Isra¢l & Palestine. Nationally. the withdrawal Of govemment ￿ndIng to the Inter Faith Network (EFNI UK was a decision that is seen as short-sighted at]d harnthLI to illteifaith and Community relations throughout the couniry. Page 4 GIL4SSROOTS PROGRAMME TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT ror the Year Ended JI August 2024 Locally. ill È local tthife Crittie ittcideni in Oct'23, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Luton. We networked with the Bedfordshire Police. Luton's many scbools, the Luton council, and also with Luton's diverse co]ntnunilies and faith groups to come together to express our collective deep shock and sadness &t th¢ tragic ev¢nt. A silellt prayer vigil was held in Wardown Park. We also supported a special faith-led event at olle of Lut0￿.$ pmtninent mosques propagating a gtrong message Stop the Hate and Violence. It has no place in our civilised societies. One of our CATALYST-train¢d young persons Lolllributed significalltly lo a multi-agellcy Knife Crime SumEnit held ai Lulon Sixth Fomi Coll¢ge lat¢r in Nov'23. A neighbourly issue involving a place of worship could have potentially 8ott¢n out of hand, on the night of Cbrislmas day. W¢ m¢dÉat¢d, m¢ntor¢d, and made people aware of the unpleasant consequ¢n¢es bringing di5r¢pute to the whole of Lutot] town, and eventually w¢ h¢lped resolve the issue atllicably as soosj as possible. The killing of children in Southport was shockillg for everyone. What was even more sbocking was tbe far-rigbt extremists hijacking the tragedy of Southport from a grieving eommunity for their own hateful racist and Islatnophobic agenda. This triggeied the civil unrest, th¢ riots atul the deplorabl¢ violent events in cities and towns 2¢ross the UK targeting minority communities and the police. Thankfully, Luton stayed peaceful. The role played by the Bedfordshire Police, Luton Council. Luton Coun¢il of Faiths and the local cOn￿unities, was commended. Such solidarity, e8pe¢i8lly in times of fear. is a power￿1 force, and strategies deployed to tackle misinfonnaiion, attd caljning a￿xieties. was a good 9lld timely iotervention. People in Southport set an example by corning togeth¢r to corLdemn the violence. support the victims and clean up tlke mess after the riots, but they must not be the only one$; we all must play our part too. AtLd thai is why Lulon, we invited people to make short solidarity videos with thos¢ of different backgroutsds. sharI￿g their stories of friendships and ILviug well togethei. a￿d upload it on #wearelutoll. (Watch it on https.'Ilwww.facebookcomlgtoupsILutOllFail Overall, ourprioriiies during the last year hav¢ included, conti￿llIng to monitor tet]sion$ caused by the ongoing wars and conflicts, panicularly the ¢onflict in M'Easi mentor individuals and organisations (faith and volurttary} retnTrnding and str¢ngth¢ning everyone of our collective resolve to kw pcace in our tow encourage and foster 'social interaction, and 'social a¢tion' across religious and CUItt￿al divid¢5 $0 that we ca contlllue to work togettLer for the common good build. consolidate & sliengthen local patherships & networks support local projects fisnded by the Near Neighbours Gran(s strengthen good and positive l¢adership in our cotnFnunities We must all strellgtheB our resolve to continue working Èog¢ther for safeguarding tbe vulnerable. for the stability and Cotnpassion in our society, and for the peace, unity, w¢llb¢ing, and prosperity of all in our town. a5 well 8$ in our country. RISK MANAGEMENT The Trustees h2ve assessed the major risks to which the ehariry is exposed, in particular thos¢ r¢lat¢d to the fthances of the charity and are satisfied thai systems ar¢ in place to reduce exposure to th¢ major risks. RESERVES POLICY Tbe Trustees have a policy of aitlling to retain reserv¢s ¢quival¢nt to six mollttLS average expettditure. Tbis is du¢ to the n¢ertain nature of ￿ndIng received. The flee reserves at the year-end were £57.895. PLANS FOR FUTbRE PERIODS Tbe Tntslees remain committed to the growth of tlke Grt85roots Programm¢ and th¢ possibiliti¢5 Qf expandin8 the presence of Grassroots Progranllne to other parts of the country. How¢ver, tbis is dependent upon th¢ charity securillg additional fulld5. FIPIANCLIL REVIEW The charity had total incorne of £134,880 (2023 £114.5761. The main sources of incoEue wer¢ grants of £l10,56412023 £101,807). The chariry had total expenditur¢ of £143,15212023 £116.4161. Expenditure on charitable activities totalled £126,792 {2023 £97.2161 whicb iticluded governallce costs of £3,584 12023 £3,147). Tbere was n¢t ￿co￿t ott the unrestricted fund of £l,498 and llei expenditure of £9,770 on the restricted fund after transfers between funds. Total nds at the end of the year were £62,953. P&ge 5 GRASSROOTS PROGRAIVI.ME TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 The trustees would lik¢ Lo record their thanks to all individuals and associations WILO SUPPOrted the charity during tile year. All details of the in¢ome atLd expenditure of the charity ar¢ set out in the Stalemetti of Financial Activiiies and the note5 to tbe accounts. In the opitiion of the truste¢S the charity was ill a satisfactory fillancial position at the year end. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES. RESPONSIBILITIES The trustees are responsible for preparill¥ the TThstees' A[￿Ual R¢port and the stat¢m¢nts in accordance with applicable law aud Uuited Kingdom Accounting Standards (UNited Kingdom Generally Acc¢pted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in EThglatid & Wales requires the tNstees to prepare financial ststements for each financÉal year which give a trne and fair view of th¢ stat¢ of affairs of the charity attd of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity lor that period. In pr¢paring these financial statements, the tNstees are Tequiied select suitable aeeounting policies and then apply them eonsistently,. observe the tnethods and principle5 Ln the Charities SORP 20191FRS 102}; rnake judgements and estimates that arc r¢asonabl¢ and prudent., stste whetber applicable accounting standards have been followed, subj¢ct to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements: prepare tbe fwancial staiements on the going coneem basis unless it is inapptopriate to presume that the CI￿lty will continue ill operation. The trust¢¢s ar¢ r¢sponsible for keeping proper ac¢ouuting r¢coTds that disclose witb reasonabl¢ acciuacy at any time tbe fjnancial politioll of the cbariry and enable them to eTLsure that the financial statetnents cornply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity IAcKounts and Reports) RegulatiOTLS 2008 aDd th¢ provisions of the coll5titution, They are also r¢sponsLble for safeguarding the assets of the charity and henc¢ for taking reasonable step5 for the preventlOD and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Rev D Lawson Chair BRO¢ Tr¢asw¢r Date.. 7 NoveTnber 2024 Page 6 GRASSROOTS PROGRAMME 1ry4DEPENDENT EXAMINERS, REPORT to the Trustees of Gr&5sroot5 Programtne I report to the charity trustees on my examinatioll of tbe accounts of the ¢iiarity for the year ended 31 August 2024 which are s¢t out on pages 8 ro 19. RESPONSIBILITIES AND BASIS OF REPORT As the charity's trustees you are respottsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with tbe requiretnellts of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act'l. I report in r¢spect of my eKamination of the charity's accounts carried out und¢r section 145 of the Act and in carryin8 out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 14515)Ib} of the Act. tNDEPENDENT EL4MINERS' STATEMENT Your attention is drawn to the fact that the ¢harity has prepared the accounts in a¢cordan¢¢ with A¢¢ounting and Reporting by Charili¢s.' Statement of R￿0mm¢nded Pra¢ii¢e applicable to charities prcparing their a¢¢ounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 in prefcren¢¢ to the Accounting and Eieponing by Charities.. Statement of Eiecortunetkded Practice issued on l April 2005 which is refeffed to in th¢ extant regulations but has since been withdrawn. W¢ understand that this has b¢¢n donc in order for the accounts to provide a true and fair Yiew in accordance with the Gen¢rally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginnillg OIL or after l January 2015. l knave ¢ompleted my examination. I confirni that no material matters have come to tny attention itt connection witb the examination giving me cause to believe that in atky material respe¢t'. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as r¢quired by sectioTh 130 of the Act., or the accounts do not accord with those records,. or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements conc¢rning the forni and corttelli of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 oth¢r than any requiremettt that the accouttts giv¢ a'tNe a￿d fait view, which ts not a tnatter considered as part of all itLdependent exa￿l￿all0￿. I have no ¢OD¢erns atld have come acTOSS no oiher matters in CQDllWtIQD WitIL the examination to which attention should be drawn in this reptsrt in order to enable a proper understanding of the ￿cOunts to b¢ reached. RACOXFCA Miller & Co Chaffered Accountallts 5 Imperial Court Lllporte Way. Luton Bedford5hire LU4 8FE 8 November 2024 Page 7 GRASSROOI'S PROGIL4MME STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 r4ote UnrestrReted Restrieted Funds Funds 2024 Total 2023 Toial INCOME FROM Granis Donations Invcsiment income Sale of Fairtrade goods Othcr incomc 64,000 4,492 2,234 10,936 6,454 46,564 200 110,564 4,692 2,234 In,936 101,807 9.567 1,372 1,830 TOTAL INCOME 88.116 46.764 134,880 114.576 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds Charltable aetlvStles 16.360 70,258 16,360 126,792 19.200 97.216 56.534 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 86,618 56,534 143 152 116,416 Iyet income I (expenditure) 1.498 19.770) (8,2721 11.8401 Trdll5fers between funds Nei movement in fi7nds for the year 1,498 {9,770) (8,272> 11,8401 Reeonciliation of funds Fund5 brouglil fon¥ard at I S¢pt¢mb¢r 2023 56,397 14,828 71,225 73,065 Funds carried forward at 31 August 2024 £57,895 £5,058 £62.953 £71,225 Thc statement of financial 8ctlVLties include5 all gains and losses in th¢ year. All incoming rcsources and r¢sourccs expended derive from continuing activities. Page 8 GRASSROOTS PROGRAMME BALANCE SHEET 31 August 2024 Not¢ 2024 2023 FKXED ASSETS: Tangible assets CURRENT ASSETS: Debtors COIF Funds Cash ar bat 10 123 42,703 32,627 44,938 20,504 65,557 75,453 Creditors.. atnounts falling du¢ within one y¢ar NET CURRENT ASSETS 71,225 NET ASSETS £62,953 £71.225 Unr¢stricted geDeral fund R¢stricied funds 13 13 57,895 56,397 14,828 TOTAL FUNDS £62.953 £71.225 The financial st&t¢ments oll pages 8 ¢0 19 were approved by the board of trnstees on 7 November 2024. SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES: LLJ Rev D Lawson Chair Mr B tloe Treasurer 7 November 2024 Page 9 GILISSROOTS PROGRAMME NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 I. ACCOUNTING POLICIES General iThformitlon and basis of prepArAtion GrassTOQts Programtne is a Charitable kncorporated Orgatsisatiott. The charity constitutes a publi¢ b¢n¢fit elltity as defined by FRS 102. The fmancial statemellts have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Eieporting by Charities.. Statelnenl of Recommended Practice applicable to Cbariiies preparing their accounts in accordance with the FiDancial Eieporting Standard applicable in the UK and RepublLC of treland issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Eiepublic of Ireland {FRS 102), th¢ Cbarity's constitution. the Charitt¢s Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Piaciice. The fumncial stalerne￿ts ILave been pr¢pared to give a 'true alld fair. view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and R¢portsl Regulations 2008 only lo the extent rquired to provide a 'trne and fair view.. This departure has involv¢d following the Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statemellt of Recommended PThAciice applicable to charities prq)aring th¢ir accounts in aceordallce with the Fittatlcial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Irelalld issued in October 2019 rather than the Accountitig and Reporting by ChariiRes'. Statemetti of Recomm¢nd¢d Pr&cti¢e effective from l April 2005 whicb has ssnee beett withdrawi. The financial siaiements are prepared on a going con¢ern basis und¢r the historical cost conventioll. The financial state￿ents are presented in pounds sterling attd rounded to th¢ n¢arest poutld. The *ddTess of the pritscipal office is given ill the charity inf0m￿tion on page l of these financial statem¢nts. Going concern The fLnallcial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe Ih*t no material uncertaÈnlies exist. The ttustees have considered the l¢vel of fuNls held and the expected level of illcotne and expendithre for 12 months from authorising these financial stat¢mellts. The budgeted income and eKpenditure is sufficiettt with the level of reseryes for the clLarity to b¢ abl¢ to ¢ontinu¢ &s a going eoncem. Unrestricted 2nd restricted funds UDf¢Stricted fL￿d$ ale grants and other income r¢c¢ived for the ObJ￿ts of the charity without filrther spe¢ifi¢d purpose and ale available as general funds. D¢signated funds comprise unrestricted funds that hav¢ been set asid¢ by the trustees for particular purposes. Th¢ aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to ihe fmancial stat¢m¢nts. Resiricted funds are those ￿llds whi¢h are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor or the ttusiees. Expenditur¢ which ineels these criteria is identified to the ￿ttdS. together with a fair allocation of administration and support costs. Th¢ aim and use of ¢a¢h restricted futtd is set out ill the notes to the financial ststements. In¢ome recognltlon Donations alld oi&et ittcome are recogttised wh¢n received Grants are recognis¢d when rweived or wh¢u the charity has legal entitlement to them, the amount can be reliably measured and there is sufficient certainty of receipt them. Expenditure re¢ognition Staff costs and overhead expenses are allocated to activities on the basis of staff time sperlt on those activities. Support costs comprise those costs incurred directly ill SUPPQrt Of expendiNre on the objeciives of the charity. GoverDallee costs retate to tNstees' expenges, legal charges, independent ¢xamillers fe¢s aad attributable ¢xp¢lls¢s of governing the clmriry. The trnstees give all their time free of charge. Expenditure is recognised wh¢Th the amount can be reliably measured. there is a legal obligation to make it and it is probable that settlement will be required. Page 10 GRASSROOTS PROCRAMME NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS lor the Year Ended 31 August 2024 ACCOUNTING POLICIES tontinued Leasing commitments Reiitals paid ￿￿d¢r operatillg leases ate cbaiged to iUCQD]¢ as illcurred. Petksions Th¢ ¢1￿]ty operates a defilled contribution pension scheme for certain employees. Contributions iTh respect of pensions are Charged 19 irL¢Qtne in the year in which they gre paid. Debtor$ 40d creditors receivabl¢lpayable within One year Grants, other debiors and creditors re¢¢iv8ble or payable within one year are recorded at trattsactioll price. Fixed assets The charity has a policy of c3P2talising fLxed ass¢t expendi￿re over £1,000. Tangible fjxed assets are sta￿d al cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation ts provided on all tangible fixed 3ssets, at rates calculated to write off th¢ ¢ost, less estimated residual value. of eacb asset on a sysiemalic basis over its expected ￿¢fiLl life as follows.. LT and office equip￿ellt 330/0 on cost 2. INCOME FROM GRANTS Unrestrlcted Restri¢t¢d 2024 Total 2023 To￿1 Grunts lor geDeral purposes Methodist Church Bcds, Essex & Herts District URC - MIG (Thatnes North Synod) DEocese of St. Albans Luton CouncEI of Faiths Northampton RC Dio¢¢s¢ 15,000 12,000 10,000 12,0 15,000 15,000 12,000 10,000 12,OlJO 15,000 15,1)00 12,000 10,840 12,000 13.250 Church Urban Fund (Near Neighbour5) Near Neighbouis Fund Projects 29.239 29.239 31,292 Ev¢nt$ National Lottery- Cotnmunity FuThd Westhill Endowment 9,900 7,425 9,900 7,425 7,425 64.000 46,564 110,564 101,807 Income from grants in 2023 totalled £1 01,807 of which £38.717 was attributable to restricted funds and £63,090 was attributable to unrestricted thnds. Page 11 GRASSROOTS PROGRAMME NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 3. INCOME FROM DONATIONS & LEGACIES Unrestricted Re5tri¢ted 2024 2023 Total Donatlons General Events 4.492 4,492 200 9,567 200 4,492 200 9,567 Income from donations alld legacies in 2023 totalled £9.567 of which £tiil was attributable to restricted funds attd £9,567 was attributable to uDr¢stricled fi￿d8. Page 12 GRASSROOTS PROGRAMME NOTES TO THE FI,YANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 4. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE OIY CHARITABLE ACTtVITIES Aetivitie$ Undertake Directly 2024 Charitable Activitie$ 2024 Support C05t$ TotAI 2024 2024 Events Neighbours Advancement of Interfaith Relations & Community Development Work 23,845 17,372 3,450 11,867 27395 29,239 9.593 60,665 70,258 50,810 75,982 12A792 Activities undertake directly 2023 Charitsble Activities 2023 Support Costs 2023 Total 2023 Events Working With Women Near Neighbours Advancemeni of Inrerfaith Relations & Conununity Development Work 4,036 4,360 20,276 4.036 4,360 31,693 11,417 3,783 53.344 57.127 32.455 97.216 £56.534 {2023 £40,089) of tbe above costs were attributable to r¢strs¢ted funds and £70,258 (2023 £57.127) were attributable to unresirieted funds. Pag¢ 13 GRASSROOTS PROGtL4MME NOTES TO TFIE FINANCIAL STATETrIENTS for the Year Lnded 31 August 2024 4a. ALLOCATION OF SUPPORT COSTS Advatteem¢nt of Interfaith Relgtions & CommuDIty Development Work 2024 Basis of AitOCgtioD Near Nelgbbours 2024 Support Cost 2024 Events 2024 Total 2024 Gov¢rnance Informatio teC1￿010gY Staff costs Depr¢ciation O￿lC¢ costs Usage 3.584 3.584 Usage Usage Usage Usage 1,158 32,735 71 10.840 1.229 47.025 3,450 23,188 956 24,144 60,665 3,450 11,867 AdvaD¢ement of Interfaith Relations & Community Developmeot Work 2023 B4si$ of Allocation Near Neighbours 2023 Support Cost 2112J Events 2023 Total 2023 GoYern&nce Information techllology Staff costs D¢pr¢ciation Offi¢¢ costs Usage 3,147 3,147 Usage Usage Usage Usage 1.349 33,360 830 14,658 1,349 44,375 830 15,060 11,015 402 53,344 11.417 64,761 Page 14 GIL4SSROOTS PROGRAMME NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended JI August 2024 5. GOVERNANCE COSTS 2024 2023 Trust¢¢ expenses Ind¢p¢lld¢nt examiners fee Support costs 96 lJ98 2,090 10 1,362 1,775 3,147 6. STAFF COSTS AND NUMBERS Stsff eosts were as follows.. 2024 2023 Charity director 45.000 42,500 Employers Natiollal Insurance- payabl¢ 4,955 4,674 Less Employment allowance (4,955) {4,6741 45.1100 42.500 Pettsion cojktributions 2.700 2,550 47,700 45,050 Defined contribution pension expense is allocated to activities based on the time apportioment of th¢ relevant employee. No employ¢e ¢aTued more than £60,000 during tbe year12023 same). The average number of employ¢¢s during th¢ yeAr was as follows.. Administratio Charirable activities Page 15 GEL4SSROOTS PROGRAMME NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATETrIENTS for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 7. T114NSACTIONS WITH TRUSTEES No trustee5 received any reTnulleratiO￿ during the year. Travel co$t$ amounting to £96 {2023 £10) were reimbursed to two (2023 ouel trustees. No ttuste¢ had any perso[￿1 irLt¢rest in any contra¢t or transaction entered into by the ¢harity during the year {2023 same). 8. TAXATION As a charity, Grassroots Programme is exempt from tsx income and gains falling within sections 521 to 536 of tILe Income Tax Act 2007 or section 256 of the Taxaiion of Chargeable Gaitis Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No lax eharges have arisen in the charity. 9. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS IT aDd O￿lee Total Cost: As al I SeptettLber 2023 Additions Disposals 2,490 2,490 As at 31 August 2024 De reciAtion: As at I S¢plember 2023 Charge forth¢ year Disp05als 2,490 2,490 As at 31 August 2024 2.490 r+iet Book Value: As at 31 August 2024 As at 31 August 2023 Pag¢ 16 GRASSROOTS PROGIL4MME NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 10. DEBTORS 2024 2023 Prepaymeots Accrned income 115 123 Ils 123 I I. CREDITORS: Amoullts falltll8 due within olle year 2024 2023 Accrnals Taxation and social security Other credittsrs 1.398 756 450 2,914 864 450 12. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWTEN FUNDS Unrestrieted Futtds Restrieted Funds Total 2024 Net current assets 57.895 5,058 62,953 Total ll¢t ass¢ts 56.397 14.828 71.225 Unrestrieted Fund5 Restricted Fund5 Total 2023 Net current assets 56,397 14,828 71,225 Totsl net assets 56.397 14,828 Pag¢17 GRASSROOTS PROG114MME NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 13.MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Balance at I September 2023 Balance at 31 ,lugu5t 2024 Income Expenditure Transfer5 Restrieted Funds Near Neighbollrs Events 29.239 17.525 129,2391 (27,2951 14.828 14,828 46.764 56.534 Unrestrieted Funds General fllnds Designaied funds= Spiritllality of Jugttce 35.223 88.116 186.6181 21.174 57395 21,174 121.1741 56.397 88.116 186.618 57895 Total Fund$ 71.225 134.880 (143,152 62.953 B818nee 8t I September 2022 Bal8n£e at 31 August 2023 Income Fdxpenditure Transfers Restricted Funds Working ivith W'omen Near Neighbours Events 14,3601 {31,6931 14,0361 4,360 401 11,439 31.292 7.425 14,828 11,840 38,717 {40,089 4.360 14.828 Ilnrestricted Fund5 General funds Dcsignatcd funds.. Spirituality of Justice 51,644 62.609 (74,6701 14.360} 35,223 9.581 13,250 11,6571 21.174 61,225 75,859 (76,327 14.360 56.397 Total Funds 73.065 114,576 116,416 71.225 Page 18 GIL4SSROOTS PROGIUMME NOTES TO TIIE FINAINCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 All%u5t 2024 IOVEMENT IN FUNDS continued The itustees have delemined that th¢ Sptriluality of J1151ice designaled fund 15 no IoTLger required hence the transfcr io general fund5. The balances on the restricted funds will be used io coniinue the work of ihe projects in accordan¢¢ with the term5 of th¢ fund¢rs. Details of the fi￿dS are as follows.. N¢ar Ncighbollrg- Bringing neighbours togeiher for 'social acison. and'sochal interaction,. Even includcs Wcsthill Endowm¢tit Fund and National Lottery Community Fund for the multi-faith storyielling workshops. 14. RELATED PARTIES AND CONTROLLING PARTV There were no related party transactions requiring disclosurc.12023 £nil). Th¢ charity is controlled by the Trustees. Page 19