2023-08-31-accounts - Fodip (The Forum For Discussion Of Israel And Palestine)

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT, WITH ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (FODIP)

For the Financial Period

1[st] SEPTEMBER 2022 – 31[ST] AUGUST 2023

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT, WITH ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (FODIP)

Registered Charity Number 1189476

CIO - ASSOCIATION Registered 14 May 2020

For the Financial Period 1[ST] SEPTEMBER 2022 – 31[ST] AUGUST 2023

Patrons:

Lord Harries of Pentregarth

Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield CBE

Imam Qari Asim MBE

Members

Dr Jane Clements MBE (Joint Chair)

Rabbi Warren Elf MBE (Joint Chair/Treasurer)

Canon Marcia Wall (stepped down on 4 August 2023)

Muddassar Ahmed

Jawad Amin

FODIP - The Forum for Discussion of Israel and Palestine

Registered Address from 14 May 2020 Manchester Multifaith Centre Unit 18, The Wesley Centre Royce Road Manchester M15 5BP www.fodip.org.uk ; E: admin@fodip.org.uk

THE FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (FODIP)

For the Financial Year 1[ST] SEPTEMBER 2022 – 31[ST] AUGUST 2023

FODIP is a charitable incorporated organisation (registered on 14 May 2020) established to improve inter faith relations in the UK in the context of the Israeli Palestinian conflict.

Trustees report

Our Aims

FODIP’s objects are:

The promotion of racial and religious harmony for the benefit of the public in particular but not exclusively by:

a) Promoting mutual understanding and respect between Jews, Christians, Muslims and the wider public in the UK;
b) The provision of assistance, through dialogue and education, where community relations are threatened by differences in perspectives regarding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and other global problems;
c) Resourcing the public concerning religious issues and approaches to peace and justice, involving events and people in the Middle East.

Objectives

In order to fulfil these aims, FODIP works through three main areas of activity:

On a local level, resourcing and facilitating dialogue and education among local faith and inter faith groups on the Israeli Palestinian conflict;
Through Study Tours to Israel and Palestine;
At national level, acting as a point of information and advice, consulting and providing material for national organisations and institutions.

Governance

The board of trustees has not met formally during this period but there has been regular communication between trustees and the Programme Director and decisions made were confirmed online and through email.

THE FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (FODIP)

For the Financial Year 1ST SEPTEMBER 2022 – 31ST AUGUST 2023

Trustees report cont’d

Activities

Summary

FODIP has successfully delivered a variety of activities aimed at implementing their aims and objectives during the period of September 2022 to August 2023. These activities have positively impacted at least 350 people both as direct participants and the broader communities involved. Direct engagements have occurred through:

Training programmes
Engagement and dialogue programmes: Peacebuilders, Breaking Barriers Creating Conversations,
FODIP Ambassadors
Visit to the region
Facilitating dialogue with: Education institutions, community and voluntary groups, local council,
national organisations, interfaith organisations, faith groups and places of worship.
Advice and guidance
Women’s Voices Sports Programme: new participants from traditional communities join as
participants and have been engaged to deliver the sessions.
Tough Options Moving Forward: Engaged with 30 young people of faith and of no faith, from
England and Northern Ireland. Engaged and collaborated with Corrymeela and other organisations with similar aims, and with experts and academics.
Raised our profile and attended networking opportunities.

The activities have impacted positively to fostering dialogue, understanding, and increase in understanding. A significant contribution to our mission of promoting dialogue and interfaith understanding, as well as enhancing community participation through various engagements and specialised programmes.

FODIP Ambassadors

FODIP alumni continue to join as ambassadors and the group is growing. It supports and contributes to the vision of FODIP. This group met regularly in person and online discussing pressing issues and exploring ways to extend the impact of current programmes. This contributed to leadership development, increased positive communication and expansion of programmes, reaching wider audiences for participation. Whilst giving the ambassadors opportunities to develop and lead on the programmes that would make the most difference, they input into programme design and delivery.

THE FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (FODIP)

For the Financial Year 1ST SEPTEMBER 2022 – 31ST AUGUST 2023

Trustees report cont’d

Questions Without Borders – Study Tours to the region

Attempts were made to arrange a visit to the region. A draft programme was produced in collaboration with organisations from the region and enquires regarding hotels and travel have been made. Many people are interested in participating through our tours, but have had challenges with safety, costs and dates. This has meant that the tour has been put on hold, with a waiting list of interested participants. Frequent communication is made with this group. Participants from previous tours have continued to stay engaged, communicating through WhatsApp groups and social media.

Contributing to research and sharing good practice

Being involved in the evaluation for our funders. Contributing to research and toolkits developed by academics and Think Tanks, including the Woolf Institute at The University of Cambridge to help measure the impact.

Attending and participating in workshops held by LSE, exploring how stories are used by Women of Faith from the UK and the region. Joining Christians, Jews and Muslim women from the UK and Palestinian and Israeli women to share good practice on peacebuilding.

Networking and raising profile

Connecting, building and maintaining relationships and contacts within the UK and in the region. Opportunities to increase our engagement into Europe and USA, with individuals and organisations reaching out for advice and guidance on tensions and issues they experience on the issue of Palestine and Israel. Addressing and tackling misinformation about FODIP and its work. Visiting the region to maintain connections.

THE FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (FODIP)

For the Financial Year 1ST SEPTEMBER 2022 – 31ST AUGUST 2023

Trustees report cont’d

Breaking Barriers Creating Conversations

This has continued throughout this year. FODIP Ambassadors have taken the lead with driving this forward and addressing issues close to them. They have been part of the development and delivery of the sessions, bringing new participants to the sessions through their networks. An example of a workshop was a Places of Worship tour, where the Ambassadors arranged visits to a mosque, church and a synagogue. They also supported holding an interfaith iftar held during Ramadhan, with interactive exercises led by the Ambassadors. Other issues to be addressed are mental health and well-being, relationships, hate crime and connecting with nature.

Training and Development

As well as training and development for staff, we have offered guidance to volunteers, helping them build confidence and equip them with skills for employment.

Delivery of training and facilitating workshops

This year FODIP has delivered numerous bespoke workshops online and in person. Programmes were developed to reflect the experiences and issues for each institution.

FODIP was invited to deliver an introductory session to year 10 and year 11 students at a school in Greater Manchester as part of their PSHE day, opening up dialogue in a safe space.

Advice and guidance

We have given advice and guidance on how to deal with sensitive situations arising in education institutions, faith organisations, local councils and colleagues/peers. This is often given one to one, and sometimes with a small group. FODIP Trustees and staff are involved together in planning and delivering these sessions.

THE FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (FODIP)

For the Financial Year 1ST SEPTEMBER 2022 – 31ST AUGUST 2023

Trustees report cont’d

Peacebuilders Programme

The Peacebuilders project was a training course for Christians in leadership positions delivered over several months to 9 Christians, and funded by MB Reckitt. It developed skills and knowledge needed to lead and promote positive, informed dialogue among Jews, Christians, Muslims, and those of other faiths or none.

Students engaged with these complex issues through a combination of online and in-person sessions, benefiting from a diverse range of perspectives from communities both in the UK and the Middle East. Towards the end of the course, participants travelled together to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, where they experienced first-hand some of the topics discussed and listened to the stories of those living in the Holy Land.

Tough Options Moving Forward

Much of this year’s focus has been on the Tough Options Moving Forward programme (TOMF). It has had a number of new recruits join the programme. Following on from a successful first residential, online and in-person workshops have been delivered at least once a month. One of these interactive Zoom workshops focused on adding to participants’ dialogue toolkit and beginning to discuss difficult issues in relation to Israel and Palestine. Moreover, English participants met in Manchester in early February for a workshop focused on understanding significant events in the history of the Israel/Palestine conflict.

The second residential of the project was planned to take place from the 10th-13th March, but due to heavy snow was cancelled on the day and rescheduled for July. This time the Northern Irish participants travelled over and joined the English participants for four days at a venue in the Derbyshire countryside. A range of hybrid and in-person workshops were delivered, including workshops on antisemitism and islamophobia, UK interfaith engagement on Israel/Palestine, approaches to conflict transformation and the history of the troubles in Northern Ireland. Presenters and workshop facilitators, academics and experts have been engaged to input into the programme. Friendships are strengthening, new ones forming and an increase in openness and empathy can be noted.

THE FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (FODIP)

For the Financial Year 1ST SEPTEMBER 2022 – 31ST AUGUST 2023

Trustees report cont’d

Evaluation of Tough Options Moving Forward

FODIP developed a proposal to secure an external evaluator for FODIP’s Tough Options Moving Forward project to help assess the impact the project has made on the lives of the individuals involved and communities impacted. It will help inform strategies, direction and the support needed to continue the learning and development of the participants and project. The evaluation will help plan for the sustainability of this project and guide the development of new projects; identifying challenges and barriers encountered, whilst building on the outcomes, achievements and successes. The successful organisation will start in October 2023.

Women’s Sports Programme

A small but important project which FODIP continues to run with a notable increase in participation by women from traditional backgrounds. The programme witnessed higher engagement. New participants attend by word of mouth from existing participants and are usually those from traditional backgrounds and who are least likely to engage in other activities. This increase in participation highlights the programme's effectiveness in reaching and involving this demographic. The sessions provide opportunities for participants to learn new sports and develop new skills, contributing to their overall personal growth. This programme creates a platform for women from different cultural and religious backgrounds to meet, interact, and form friendships.

Testimonials and blogs

FODIP participants have been encouraged to write blogs to share their experience of participating in FODIP programmes. Testimonials and blogs have been uploaded to our website.

An example of one is below:

“As a young teenager I didn't spend much time thinking about the Israel-Palestine situation. Like many people, I had a simplistic understanding of the conflict where I presumed Israel was right, Palestine was wrong, and all Muslims supported terrorism.

THE FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (FODIP)

For the Financial Year 1ST SEPTEMBER 2022 – 31ST AUGUST 2023

Trustees report cont’d

However, my participation in FODIP provided me with a unique opportunity to engage in conversations with Muslim (and Christian) youth and gain a more nuanced understanding of the conflict. Through these discussions, I was exposed to perspectives and experiences that challenged my preconceived notions and helped me to see the issue from more than one perspective.

As a result of these conversations, I now find myself holding both pro-Israel and pro-Palestine positions, recognizing the complexities of the conflict and the need for a peaceful resolution that considers the rights and needs of both peoples. I'm grateful to FODIP for providing me with the opportunity to learn, grow, and engage in respectful dialogue with others who may hold different views than my own.”

THE FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (FODIP)

For the Financial Period

1[ST] SEPTEMBER 2022 – 31[ST] AUGUST 2023

Financial Reserves

Reserves Policy

The members have agreed the reserves policy to leave enough to meet three months’ running costs. This means that the reserves for the year are as set at 31[st] August 2023 of £9,900 (unrestricted) which is equal to three months’ expenditure on costs (that is, rent and management).

Principal funding sources

The main sources of income this year have been from The National Lottery Community Fund and the MB Reckitt Trust. In addition, donations and the delivery of seminars, consultation expertise and facilitation where appropriate, attract payment for such services.

Investment policy and objectives

The association has no long-term investments. All cash reserves are held in the Unity Trust current bank account.

Plans for future period

Aims for the forthcoming twelve months are:

To establish a sound financial base
To build capacity
To utilise the ongoing programmes to raise the profile of the organisation;
To continue to deliver our 3 major programmes.

Rabbi Warren Elf MBE

Joint Chair/Honorary Treasurer

Date 13/06/20242

THE FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (FODIP)

For the Financial Period

1[ST] SEPTEMBER 2022 – 31[ST] AUGUST 2023

FODIP Income and Expenditure, 1 September 2022 – 31 August 2023

Income TNLottery MB Reckitt A4A Project Peacebuilders Donations Bury HCAW Grant QWB Deposits TOMF Deposits + Refund Donations Services Total Income Expenditure TOMF Project Worker TOMF Project Director TOMF Equipment TOMF Venue Payroll TOMF Facilitation TOMF Advert TOMF Travel Phone Women’s Voices Bank Charges Website Office Travel Expenses Peacebuilders A4A Project QWB Insurance Fundraising Safeguarding Total Expenditure Excess of Income Opening bank balance Closing bank balance	*Year ended 31st August* *2023* Total Restricted £ £ 94,221.50 94,221.50 4,000.00 - - - 6,950.00 6,950.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 809.54 - 636.51 - 450.00 - 109,067.55 103,171.50 14,134.22 14,134.22 26,500.00 26,500.00 2,870.94 2,870.94 14,676.40 14,676.40 183.15 183.15 2,109.50 2,109.50 56.03 56.03 3,339.52 3,339.52 215.00 - 1,425.00 - 72.00 - 281.40 281.40 5,763.54 5,763.54 700.08 - 12,764.24 - 386.60 - 500.00 500.00 327.27 327.27 48.00 - - - 86,352.89 70,741.97 22,714.66 76,410.83 99,125.49	*Year ended 31st August* *2022* Total Restricted £ £ 66,952.00 66,952.00 - - 9955.00 9955.00 - - - - - - 360.00 - 3,540.56 - 3,525.60 -
		84,333.16 76,907.00
		7,887.02 7,887.02 16,075.00 16,075.00 466.22 466.22 177.20 177.20 257.76 257.76 450.00 450.00 478.40 478.40 1,613.14 1,613.14 159.00 - 1,705.00 - 72.00 - 286.24 - 2,534.88 2,534.88 1,845.03 - 510.00 - 435.42 435.42 - - 385.00 - - - 112.00 -
		35,449.31 30,375.04
		48,883.85 27,526.98 76,410.83

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Charity Name

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of THE FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (FODIP)

31st August 2023	Charity no (if any)	1189476

(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) 1-11

On accounts for the year ended 31st August 2023 Set out on pages 1-11

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 08 / 2023. DD / MM / YYYY 3 1 / 0 8 / 2 0 2 3.

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention ( ~~other than that disclosed below~~ *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

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

Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Signed: Date: 13/06/2024 Name: Rhys McAllister-Parkes Relevant professional AAT and ACCA qualified qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 31 The Glen Runcorn Cheshire, WA7 2TA

October 2018

IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

Nothing to note.

October 2018

IER