**A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION Trustee’s Annual Report FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE MUSLIM ASSOCIATION LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
## **Report of the Trustees for the year ended 30 September 2024**
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2024 and confirm they comply with the Charities Act 1993 as amended by the Charities Act 2006, the trust deed and the Charities SORP 2005
## Reference and Administrative Information
Charity Name: South Oxfordshire Muslim Association Charity Registration Number: 1200193 Charity Address: 140 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8RJ
## **Board of Trustees**
## Dr. Mus’ab Shaharom
Zeeshan Najmi Aleem Mir Hina Mutahar islam Muhammad Islam
## **Independent Examiner:** Edwin Samu
Edmil Accountants UK Ltd
## Structure, governance and management
## **Governing document**
South Oxfordshire Muslim Association is constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission in August 2022 under charity number 1200193. It is governed by its Constitution, last updated in August 2022.
## **Organisational structure**
The charity trustees are responsible for the general control and management of the charity. The trustees give their time freely and receive no remuneration or other financial benefits.
The trustees meet together monthly and are responsible for all decisions taken in relation to meeting the objectives of the charity. To assist in the operation of the charity, the trustees are supported by a group of registered members of the charity. Members and trustees meet monthly to plan charity work. The chair of trustees or the general secretary chairs all the meetings.
## **Appointment of trustees**
Trustees are appointed through an election which is held after the Annual General Meeting. In order to be nominated, candidates must be from existing members who regularly volunteer and attend events organised by the charity.
## Objectives and activities
## **Our aims**
The objects of the charity are set out in the charity’s constitution and are summarised as follows:
“To establish and advance the Islamic faith in Oxfordshire for the benefit of the public, mainly but not exclusively through the provision of a mosque, Islamic education, the celebration of religious festivals, interfaith activities, and by providing guidance about religious and spiritual wellbeing to the local community.”
## **Our objectives**
Our objectives are set to reflect our faith and community aims. Each year our trustees review our objectives and activities to ensure they continue to reflect our aims. In carrying out this review the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular its supplementary public guidance on the advancement of religion for the public benefit.
Our dual aims remain to provide a facility where Muslims can worship and to provide a community facility for all the inhabitants of Didcot and its surrounding towns. Our long-term ambition is to build the self- confidence of Didcot’s Muslims in their faith and through our community facilities and activities help make our area a peaceful, vibrant and harmonious community. Didcot is the most prominent town in the South Oxfordshire for a number of reasons such as its busy train station and a number of Business and Science Parks that are situated around this rapidly growing town. As you might be aware, there is currently no Masjid (Mosque) available to the Muslims of Didcot and surrounding towns (even though it has the largest population of Muslims after Oxford). This is very large area just about 30 or miles radius or so, between Oxford and Newbury, and Swindon and High Wycombe. Muslims from this area, mostly centered in and around Didcot, commute to Oxford in order to pray and for other religious – obligations where an average journey can take up to 45 minutes on each side.
Considering the needs and difficulties, a group of local professional Muslims got together and established “Didcot Muslims Society” back in 2008 with the aim to provide for the social and religious needs of the local Muslims families and individuals. With the Grace of Allah, we have managed to establish the Jummah Prayers, regular Quran classes for Children, Taraweeh in Ramadan and Eid prayers and a few other social and religious activities. To be able to do this, all we have is to hire the local community center’s on a regular basis.
We are at a point that we need a dedicated place, a Mosque, which would be used for social, religious and educational needs of the growing Muslim community in this part of the country. Without a Mosque, it is becoming increasingly challenging for us as we are struggling to cope with the hire costs and arrangements. We undoubtedly need a self-sufficient, permanent place for all age groups, elderly and children, for both men and women. Our aim is to establish a local Masjid for the growing Muslims community of Didcot and neighboring towns in South Oxfordshire. Our vision is to establish a place which will also become a central point for larger community cohesion by offering all members of the community both Muslims and Non-Muslim to gather and share the experience of common values.
We require a significant level of help and support to make this happen as soon as we can, therefore we request your help and support too!
Anyone can get involved in this community project in a number of ways. We believe that you, dear reader, can support this cause not only just financially, but also by giving your support to this project. Especially for the Muslims, this is an excellent opportunity to earn significant reward of Sadqa-e-Jaariya (on-going charity) as this is a noble cause and service for the Muslim community.
We need sizeable funding to be able acquire a place to adequately support the growing Muslim community. This project is the most valuable investment any Muslim can make; an investment for the Hereafter and we really hope that you help us with your kind donations, and Support us.
“And spend in the Cause of ALLAH and do not throw yourselves into destruction (by not spending
your wealth in the Cause of ALLAH), and do good. Truly, ALLAH loves Al-Muhsinun (the good doers)” – [Al-Baqarah 2:195]
We the Muslim Community of Didcot endeavour to establish an Islamic Cultural Centre and Mosque, a sacred space, that will serve the diverse and growing Muslim community in Didcot and South Oxfordshire region, We aim to build a centre that will benefit not only the Muslim community but also the wider society. The centre will:
- 1 - Provide a place for worship
- 2 - Promote religious inclusivity
- 3 - Foster community engagement
- 4 - Provide religious education
## Activities and achievements
## **How our activities deliver public benefit**
The charity carries out a wide range of activities in pursuance of its charitable aims. The trustees consider that these activities, summarised below, provide benefit both to those who participated in our events and the wider community of Didcot.
– The Impact Initiative is a six-month program designed to equip local youth aged between 15 25 years of age with essential skills and opportunities to make a significant impact in their community.
To truly bring our vision for the “Impact Initiative” to life, we plan to reach out to experienced industry professionals and subject experts from within our local community.
This cycle of learning, growth, and community contribution is at the heart of the SOMA Impact Initiative’s vision.
## **Religious and community activities**
**Prayers:** We offer a weekly Friday prayer at Fleet Meadow Hall. During the week we have over 200 people who regularly attend the prayer from Didcot and the neighbouring towns. During Ramadan we also organised daily night prayer and we were honoured to have three visiting imams to lead the prayer.
**Iftars:** The charity hosts weekly iftar dinners during Ramadan to celebrate the end of daily fasting. The event is open for all of the community members.
**Eid parties:** We organised two Eid celebrations with potluck meals and activities for children. We had a bouncy castle and ice cream van on the day. We were honoured to have the local mayor and councillors to be with us and shared some words with the community.
**Quran classes:** Quran classes were organised weekly for the children. The classes were held 3 times a week by a qualified teacher and help from a few parents. Adult quran classes were also organised once a week via online meeting.
## Financial review
## **Principal funding sources**
The charity’s main source of income is from donations. Regular contributions are received during the weekly Friday prayer. A major amount of donation is collected during the month of Ramadan through multiple fundraising efforts. In addition to donations, the charity also charges fees to cover the cost for events such as Iftar and Eid parties.
## **Investment policy and objectives**
Currently the charity has no short or long-term investments. The cash reserves are held in the current amount without bearing any interest. In the future, the charity will look into depositing the cash reserves in a shariah compliant money market and savings account.
## **Plans for future periods**
The charity is actively looking for a dedicated prayer space and a community centre. This can be in the form of a Mosque or a Musalla. The current arrangement of hiring local halls poses multiple challenges in terms of availability and space.
To meet the financial requirements of maintaining a Masjid or a Musalla, a more strategic approach for fundraising will be planned.
## Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing an annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (united Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice)
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any tie the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees for the purposes of charity law who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 1.
Approved by the trustees and signed on its behalf by:
Dr Mus’ab Shaharom (Chair)
08 July 2025
## **EDMIL ACCOUNTANTS UK LTD INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of **South Oxfordshire Muslim Association**
I report to the Charity Trustees on my examination of the charity accounts for the year ended 30 September 2024 which consists of the statement of financial activities, balance sheet and the related notes
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act')
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent Examiner's Statement**
The charity’s gross income does not exceed £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of ACCA
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination. Therefore, I can confirm that:
The accounting records were kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act.
The accounts comply with the accounting records
The accounts 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 a s 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 accounts to be reached.
## **Examined by:**
Name: Edwin Samu
Edmil Accountants UK Ltd
08 July 2025
## **South Oxfordshire Muslim Association**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FROM 01/10/2023 TO 30/09/2024**
|**South Oxfordshire Muslim Association**|**South Oxfordshire Muslim Association**|**South Oxfordshire Muslim Association**|**South Oxfordshire Muslim Association**|**South Oxfordshire Muslim Association**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FROM 01/10/2023 TO 30/09/2024**|||||
||||||
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Last Year**|
||**Funds**|**Funds**|**Funds**|**Funds**|
||**2024**|**2024**|**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**||
|**RECEIPTS**|||||
|Admin - Membership|509||509|
360|
|Admin - Operation||||90|
|Communityevent - Eid Adha Party|702||702|
815|
|Communityevent - Iftar|2,058||2,058|
935|
|Donation - Masjid||21,773|
21,773|
21,888|
|Refund - Eid Adha Prayer||||178|
|Refund–Sum up
Interest|30||30|129
0|
|Donation - General|55,917|
|55,917|976|
|**Total Receipts**|**59,216**|
**21,773**|
**80,989**|
**25,371**|
||||||
|**PAYMENTS**|||||
|Admin - Operation|2205||2205|
326|
|Asset - Carpet||||800|
|Asset - Sumup||||209|
|Communityevent - Eid Adha Party|452||452|
523|
|Communityevent|1,178||1,178|
339|
|Communityevent - Eid Fitr Prayer|51||51|
115|
|Communityevent - Iftar|428||428|
882|
|Communityevent - Jumuah|886||886|
190|
|Communityevent - Tarawih|531||531|
740|
|Donation - 3rdparty||1,989|
1,989|
852|
|**Total Payments**|**5,731**|
**1,989**|
**7,720**|
**4,975**|
||||||
|**NET RECEIPTS**|**53,485**|
**19,784**|
**73,269**|
**20,396**|
## **South Oxfordshire Muslim Association**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
||**Notes**|**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**£**|**£**|
|**Assets**||||
|Tangible assets||1,009|1,009|
|**CURRENT ASSETS**||||
|Debtors||-|-|
|Cash at bank||93,665|20,396|
|**CREDITORS**||||
|Amounts falling due within one||||
|year||(124)|(124)|
|**NET CURRENT ASSETS**||**94,550**|**20,272**|
|**NET ASSETS**||**94,550**|**21,281**|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**||**94,550**|**21,281**|
Approved by the trustees on date and signed on their behalf by:
Dr Mus’ab Shaharom Chair of Trustees 8 July 2025
## **South Oxfordshire Muslim Association**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
|**Assets**
**Notes**
Tangible assets
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
Cash at bank
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**NET ASSETS**
**TOTAL FUNDS**|**2024**
**£**
**2023**
**£**
1,009
1,009
-
-
93,665
20,396
(124)
(124)|
|---|---|
||**94,550**
**20,272**|
|||
||**94,550**
**21,281**|
|||
||**94,550**
**21,281**|
## **Prepared by:**
Dr. Mus’ab Shaharom Chair South Oxfordshire Muslim Association