2025-03-30-accounts - Bridging Spiritual Cultures

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29th January 2026

Bridging Spiritual Cultures 55 Hivings Hill Chesham HP5 2PG

Bridging Spiritual Cultures

These are the Annual Returns for the year ended 31 March 2025:

Full financial statements on the Directors Report and the Balance Sheet 2. Letter of Representation

Charity registration number 1170420

BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CULTURES

ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CULTURES

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees M J C Lubelski S Bygate

A A S Medina X Fiquemo M S B Lubelska M E Boutchich R S McCulloch F M'Madi A R Eatwell

Charity number 1170420 BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CULTURES

Charity registration number 1170420

BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CULTURES

TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.

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:

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.
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.
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.

During the year of the Annual Return 30 March 2024 to 31 March 2025, the charity has:

Maintained a regular weekly programme of online sessions offering an introduction to the practices of Sufism and Mental Well Being support open to all free of charge. Up to 100 people regularly participated online meditation sessions and feedback was received

Continued with a research partnership with UK universities for the promotion of religious harmony. Including work with the University of Hertfordshire and Anglia Ruskin University and the United Nations Faith for Rights (OHCHR – Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights) (see below)

Presented to the Al Moultaqa Foundation in Oujda, Morocco at the World Symposium of Sufism a paper based on the research carried out by the above partnership September 2024

Charity registration number 1170420

BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CULTURES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

During the year the charity has achieved the following:

Online meditation sessions for men and women in the UK and Mexico and France (Dr Siobhan Bygate, Mr Marek Lubelski, Ms Farida Mmadi, Dr Abril Saucedo Medina, Ms Sarah Zaytoun)
Establishment and Development of a Symposium at Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Hertfordshire to build a peacebuilding network between Abrahamic faiths in the wake of international conflicts which have affected domestic communities, in particular the Gaza Israel conflict through art and music and drama.
Paper given to the American University of Paris, Paris, France at a Peace Building Convention, May 2024
Presentation of the event to the Annual Meeting of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Nov 2024
Presentation to the Al Moultaqa Conference World Symposium of Sufism in Sept 2024

Charity registration number 1170420

Financial review

It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to three month’s expenditure which is £219 (2024 - £219). The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year. At the year end the charity held unrestricted reserves of £673. The charity aims to keep reserves above the three month's expenditure.

The policy has been established following consideration of guidance issued by the Charity Commission. Reserves are retained to cover all costs and liabilities in the event of the closure of the charity and the balance to be retained is reviewed annually.

Structure, governance and management

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a constitution, and constitutes a charitable incorporated organisation.

The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were: M J C Lubelski S Bygate A A S Medina X Fiquemo M S B Lubelska M E Boutchich R S McCulloch F M'Madi A R Eatwell

The Board of Trustees are elected by application and approval at the quarterly meeting with final approval at the AGM.

BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CULTURES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

Marek Lubelski

M J C Lubelski Chair of Trustees

Date: .....[29 / 01 / 2026 ]

3 - BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CULTURES

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CULTURES

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Bridging Spiritual Cultures (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011

Act).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Your attention is drawn to the fact that the charity has prepared financial statements in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has now been withdrawn.

I understand that this has been done in order for financial statements to provide a true and fair view in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015.

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

1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

3 the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.

Treasurer

Name & Signature ……Dr Siobhan Bygate

Dated: ...29[th] January 2026.....

BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CULTURES

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

INCOME:
DONATIONS:	£1517.16
INTEREST:	£28.41
TOTAL:	£1547.16
EXPENDITURE:
TOTAL:	£874.11
BALANCE:	£673.05
RESTRICTED RESERVES:	£400.00
TOTAL FUNDS:	£1073.05

29 / 01 / 2025

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on .........................

Marek Lubelski.............

M J C Lubelski Chair of Trustees