BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CULTURES
ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2023- 24
Bridging Spiritual Cultures 55 Hivings Hill Chesham HP5 2PG
Bridging Spiritual Cultures
Annual Returns for the year ended 30 March 2024:
Charity Number 1170420
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Trustees
M E Boutchich
S Bygate
A R Eatwell
X Fiquemo
M S B Lubelska
M J C Lubelski
F M'Madi
R S McCulloch
A A S Medina
Charity Number 1170420
BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CULTURES - TRUSTEES’ REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 2024
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's constitution, the Charities Act 2011 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
Objectives and activities
The objects of the charity are:
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The promotion of religious harmony for the benefit of the public in different religious beliefs including an awareness of their distinctive features and their common ground to promote good relations between persons of different faiths, and by promoting knowledge and mutual understanding and respect of beliefs and practices of different religious spiritual doctrines held in common between different religions.
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The advancement of education in the matters of both spiritual expression and religious practice and adherence for the benefit of the public, through lectures, conferences, and public events which increase levels of information, understanding, knowledge and tolerance so as specifically to counteract negative, divisive and extremist approaches to religious interpretation and practice.
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The advancement of the faith of Islam through its spiritual doctrine of Sufism for the benefit of the public, through the holding of meetings, lectures, seminars, and public events where this doctrine can be shared, understood, practised, and so as to enlighten others about the peaceful nature of the Islamic religion through sharing and communicating its spiritual doctrines.
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 (and the updated Charity Act 2011) to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit (Charities and Public Benefit).
The Trustees have ensured that all activities of the Charity are aligned with the objects of the constitution. By organising, subsidising, promoting and running events, workshops and online communications for the engagement, participation and benefit of the general public, these activities contribute to the delivery of the Charity's strategy (2015 - 2025). The strategy also aims to further develop and enhance the capacity of the Charity to meet the objects and thereby extend the planned benefit to the public more widely.
Charity Number 1170420
During the year of the Annual Return April 2023 to March 2024, the charity has:
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Maintained a regular programme of weekly online sessions offering an introduction to the practices of Sufism and Mindfulness support open to all and free of charge. Around 15 people regularly participated in online meditation sessions and an additional c. 20 attended throughout the year.
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Continued to develop a research partnership with the University of Hertfordshire investigating the impact of online practice of Sufi mindfullness activities under Covid19 in supporting public wellbeing in times of crisis and pandemic.
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Initiated a shared project to explore the relevance of the UN Faith for Rights framework through a planned public event scheduled for May 2024 on ‘Spiritual Roots & Shared Wellbeing - Faith, Rights & Community Building in Times of Crisis’ with Anglia Ruskin University including funding applications in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire
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Provided 2 presentations to the Moultaqa Foundation World Symposium of Sufism 18 in Oujda, Morocco, Sept 2023
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‘Sufism in Times of Covid 19’
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‘Evolution of citizen values from local to global: Sufi spiritual education and the evolution of citizen values in the public realm.’
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Convened an educational workshop on living spirituality and the practice of Sufism for university students attending the Moultaqa Foundation World Symposium of Sufism 18 in Oujda, Morocco Sept 2023
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Participated in speaker panel for an event on ‘Sufi Wisdom – the Hikam of Ibn Ata’Illah’ organised by the Zawiyya Trust, Birmingham, at the Birmingham Arts Centre, Jan 2024
Charity Number 1170420
BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CULTURES
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AND INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 MARCH 2024
| Restricted | Restricted | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | funds | Total | Unrestricted | funds | Total | |
| funds 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | funds 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | |
| Income from: | ||||||
| Donations | 2208 | 0 | 2208 | 710 | 0 | 710 |
| Expenditure on | ||||||
| Charitible activities | 924 | 0 | 924 | 2173 | 287 | 2460 |
| Net expenditure for the year/ | ||||||
| Net movement in funds | 1284 | 1284 | -1463 | -287 | -1750 | |
| Fund balances at 31 March 2023 | 1834 | 428 | 2262 | 1259 | 2393 | 3652 |
| Interest | 9 | |||||
| Fund Balance at 30 March 2024 | 3118 | 437 | 3555 | -204 | 2106 | 1902 |
Charity Number 1170420
BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CULTURES
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 MARCH 2024
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
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M J C Lubelski
Chair of Trustees
Date: 30 / 01 / 2025
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Charity Number 1170420