Report of the Trustees
and Unaudited Financial Accounts for the Year Ending 31[st] March 2025
for
South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust
South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust
Contents of the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| List of Contents | 1 |
| Trustees Details | 2 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 3 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 4 |
| Balance Sheet | 5 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 6 |
| Trustees Annual Report | 8 |
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South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust Report of the Trustees For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
Reference and Administrative Details
Charity Number (CIO) 1188051
Registered Office
South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust Banners Building 620 Attercliffe Road SHEFFIELD S9 3QS
Trustees
Mahmood Hussain - Chairperson Akeela Mohammed Mohammed Ghazi Sadique Irshad Akbar
Name of Independent Examiner
Not Required
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed or trust, CIO as defined by the Charities Act
Risk Management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks of which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Trustee: Mahmood Hussain Date: 19[th] January 2026
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of
South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust
Name and Signature of Independent Examiner
Not Required
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South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust Statement of Financial Activities for the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025
| 30.04.2025 | 30.04.2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Income | |||
| Total Income: | 120.00 | 120.00 | 1,600 |
| Expenditure | 60.00 | 60.00 | 1,500 |
| NET SURPLUS (DEFICIT) | 60.00 | 100.00 |
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South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust Balance Sheet as at 31[st] March 2025
| FIXED ASSETS Fixture and Fittings CURRENT ASSETS Bank CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS RESERVE ACCOUNT Net Surplus/loss 2024/25 £ |
£ ------- 160.00 0.00 160.00 |
30.04.2025 £ ------- 160.00 0.00 £160.00 £ 160.00 **£ 160.00 ** |
30.04.2024 £ ------- 100.00 0.00 £100.00 £100.00 **£100.00 ** |
|---|---|---|---|
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from an audit for the year ending 31[st] March 2025
The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ending 31[st] March 2025
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:
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(a) Ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with the Charities Statement of Accounting Practices
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(b) Preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company at the end of each financial year in accordance with the requirements of section 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of preparation of the financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
Note: The surplus will be allocated to a similar charity upon cessation of SYMBT These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with special provisions relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company. These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 19[th] January 2026 and were signed on its behalf by: Mahmood Hussain Trustee
These notes form part of these financial statements
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South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ending 31[st] March 2025
1. Accounting Policies
a. Accounting Convention
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities.
b. Incoming Resources
All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
c. Resources Expended
Expenditure is accounted for on an accrual basis and has been classified under the headings that aggregate all cost related category. Where costs can not be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
d. Taxation
The Charity is exempt from corporation tax and VAT.
e. Fund Accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for a particular restricted purpose.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
2. Trustees Remuneration and Benefits
There were no trustee’s remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31[st] March 2025.
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South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For the Year Ending 31[st] March 2025
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
3. Movement In Funds
| Balance | Incoming | Resources | Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted funds | 01/04/2025 | Resources | Expended | 31/03/2025 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Total Funds | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
4. Incoming Resources
| Unrestricted Restricted £ £ Total Incoming Resources 160.00 0.00 Resources Expended Unrestricted Restricted £ £ Total Resources Expended 60.00 0.00 Net Expenditure 60.00 0.00 |
2025 £ 160.00 2025 £ 60.00 60.00 |
|---|---|
5. Resources Expended
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Trustees Annual Report of South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust
South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust (SYMBT) registered as a charity in February 2020. The aim of SYMBT is to provide a burial space for the Muslim community across Sheffield.
In order to achieve this the trustees have established an advisory board incorporating all the trustees, 6 prominent members of the community and 2 local councillors.
The advisory board meet on a regular basis and have achieved the following in the year 2024-2025.
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Number of meetings held with Sheffield City Council Bereavement services
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Communicated to the wider community regarding burial spaces
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Public meeting was held November 2024 and leader of the council invited
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Presentation to council 7500 signed petitions in December 2024
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Attended a number of full council meeting to present the case as to the urgent need for burial space.
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Following the public meeting where over 200 individuals attended. Local and National media requested interviews and reported in press.
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Following the public meeting. Regular meetings have been held with the SCC Chief Executive, leader of the SCC along with bereavement services.
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Identified a number of sites and presented the list to council
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WhatsApp group established to keep community aware of progress and members of the group are in excess of 700.
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Discussions have also been held with medical examiners regarding changes in respect of paperwork, post mortem and collaborative working.
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We have been looking at fund raising initiatives; however we are reluctant to ask for donations across Sheffield as we want to manage expectations.
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Flooding of graves is a major concern, this was raised within the council and voiced on local and national media. The council are working with SYMBT to put in place measures as to how this can be avoided.
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A dedicated website has been established that provides information and advice across Sheffield.
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Community members provided venues in kind for the public meeting and for monthly meetings.
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Sample of Media Exposure for the cause.
1. Work under way to tackle flooded graves - Published 5 December 2024
Mourners said water flooded into the graves of their loved ones
Work is under way to tackle waterlogged graves in a Sheffield cemetery following calls from distressed mourners.
In August, burial plot holders reported flooding in Shiregreen Cemetery and said water had to be
pumped out from plots before they could be used for new interments. Sheffield City Council, which manages the site, said new, concrete-lined graves would be provided and surface water redirected.
While the news was welcomed by the South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust, its members fear similar issues at other graveyards.
Following reports of the issue, which had been affecting the section of the cemetery that is reserved for Islamic burials, the council installed a pump to remove water and commissioned a hydrological survey.
The trust's chair, Mahmood Hussain, said: "We welcome the council's initial response to the drainage issues at Shiregreen and we are hoping that this will be followed in other cemeteries too, given the increase in rainfall we are experiencing year on year."
Traditional Muslim burials involve the coffin being placed inside a bottomless concrete vault, which the council said could contribute to water being blocked from flowing through the ground.
New graves are now dug on higher ground to reduce the risk of surface run-off and include a bed of permeable pea gravel which will allow water to easily flow through into a drainage channel leading to a natural soakaway.
'Work in progress'
Councillor Kurtis Crossland, chair of communities, parks and leisure policy committee said: "We are committed to ensuring that every resting place within all of our cemeteries are dignified and we want to reassure all of our communities that we provide a compassionate and respectful provision for everyone.
"Whilst this work is progressing, we have made several changes to reassure those who have concerns, including providing same day digging on weekdays where possible, and prioritising graves in the higher part of the burial plot." The council rejected suggestions that water came from "below graves", saying burial plots would not be used if the water table was hit.
Sheffield City Council said it would keep the community updated and said any measures put in place would be reviewed to ensure they were working effectively.
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2. Victory for petitioners calling for action on burial space shortage By Eve Jones - December 6, 2024
Urgent action on the shortage of burial space in Sheffield will be taken by the City Council, after it received a petition with over 7000 signatures. The petition called on the council to act immediately on the “dire situation” at a packed town hall meeting on 4 December. Abid Hussain, who organised the petition, scolded the council for not heeding his warnings 15 months ago
when there was five years of burial space left. Now, less than three years of provision remains for the Muslim community in Sheffield.
Mr Hussain said to the council: “We weren’t taken seriously enough. We had no recourse but to take this to the public, and the public outcry is here in front of you.” For Muslims, burial is a religious obligation, so cremation is not an option. In total, there are 16 council-owned cemeteries in Sheffield and there are Muslim areas in just three of those.
However, Tinsley Park cemetery is already closed to new Muslim burials and flooding at both Shiregreen and Abbey Lane cemeteries is exacerbating both the shortage and the stress it is causing.
During the debate, Councillor for Ecclesall, Shaffaq Mohammed, shared his own worries that his mother’s desire to be buried in her home city would not be possible. He said: “I want people like my mother to be able to have their final wishes granted.” The council admitted that it has been aware of the need for more burial site provision for over ten years.
Councillor Kurtis Crossland, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee assured the campaigners that the council bereavement services have been working hard on the issue.
Earlier this year, they approved a comprehensive burial, cremation and cemetery green space strategy which will set a clear path for ensuring long term burial space provision.
However, Cllr Crossland noted that the city cannot wait for this strategy to come into effect.
He said: “We have to find new land now. The clock has been ticking for a long time.”
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Campaigners and councillors alike were delighted that the council voted unanimously to refer the issue to the Strategy and Resources Policy committee, one of the most senior groups within the council.
Mr Hussain said he would be looking for a concrete plan from the council in the coming months and urged them to consider the potential consequences of not acting.
He said: “A gentleman, 108 years-old, who fought for this country in two world wars, passed away last week. Imagine if he passed away last week and there was no grave for him to be buried in.”
3. EMERGENCY PETITION Burial Site Provision - Sheffield
For the Attention of: Councillor Tom Hunt, Leader of the Sheffield City Council, Town Hall, Sheffield.
We want immediate action to tackle the dire situation that exists with regard to the depleting burial space/provision in Sheffield by the delivery of available, affordable and appropriate new burial space/provision in Sheffield, for all communities, and particularly for the Muslim community, within the next 24 months.
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For nearly 2 years now the senior leadership of Sheffield City Council have been aware of the drastic situation regarding the depleting amount of burial space for deceased members of the Muslim community, such that at the then current rate of usage, only 5 years of supply remained within the city. There are still no actual concrete plans in place from Sheffield City Council to develop any appropriate burial sites to alleviate this long standing and pressing issue. Considering the amount of lead time involved in delivering new burial provision, this issue is now critical, with the very real and significant risk of burial space for the Muslim community running out in Sheffield, before appropriate new burial space provision is made available. This is a significant shortcoming in the Council’s strategic planning and delivery of an essential and sensitive service to the Muslim community.
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We the undersigned residents of Sheffield demand Sheffield City Council actively and effectively address this issue at the very highest level forthwith, to turn around this looming disaster. In particular to urgently present a Programme and Project Plan to the community and put in place firm actions that are actively and regularly reviewed by both the Leader and the Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, so this issue is addressed with the urgency, seniority, specialisms, resources and time that it requires and to work closely with key stakeholders to actually deliver appropriate and effective new burial provision for members of the Muslim community within the next 24 months.
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This petition demanding immediate action is endorsed by Council of Mosques South Yorkshire, United Mosques Council of Sheffield, Federation of Mosques Sheffield and the South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust
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Next Steps
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Continue with monthly meetings are held and press local authorities to work with SYMBT to establish a dedicated cemetery for the Muslim community.
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Educate the community in aspects of pre bereavement, how to address the bereavement process and support post bereavement.
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Look to raise funds through donations from the community and apply for grants that will enable SYMBT to recruit a dedicated worker, populate the website so that it can provide advice, information and support in all aspects of the bereavement process. Thereby ensuring that that the community can be better informed and prepared in advance for a difficult and emotional period of their life.
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