**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1201607 REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 11613566** ## **SOHBET SOCIETY** (A company limited by guarantee without share capital) **TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** **FOR THE YEAR ENDED** **31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **SOHBET SOCIETY** |**Contents**|**Page**| |---|---| |Legal and administrative information|2| |Trustees’ Report
|3 -4| |Accountant’s Report|5| |Statement of Financial Activities|6| |Balance Sheet|7| |Notes to the Financial Statements|8-16| 1 ## **SOHBET SOCIETY** ## **Legal and administrative information** ## **Trustees** Bilal Karaduman Yusuf Kar Mustafa Balci ## **Company Number: 11613566** **Charity Number: 1201607** ## **Registered Office address** 337 Fore Street, London, N9 0NU ## **Accountants** AA Accountancy Services 244 Chase Road London N14 6HH 2 ## **Sohbet Society Annual Report 2022-2023** _Advancing the Religion of Islam for the Public Benefit in the UK_ ## **Table of Contents** 1. Introduction 2. Objectives 3. Sohbet 4. Mentoring 5. Retreats 6. Excursions 7. Qur'an Lessons 8. Social Events 9. Fundraising 10. Conclusion ## **1. Introduction** The Sohbet Society is pleased to present its annual report for the year ended 31 December 2023. Over this period, we have worked diligently to fulfil our objectives of advancing the religion of Islam and promoting understanding of Islamic teachings in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. We have achieved this through various projects and activities tailored to meet the spiritual and social needs of our community. ## **2. Objectives** Our primary objective, in line with our charitable mission, is to advance the religion of Islam by following the Holy Quran and teachings of the prophets. To achieve this, we have focused on the following activities: - Holding prayer meetings. - Organizing lectures and discussions. - Celebrating religious festivals. - Producing and distributing literature on Islam. These activities are aimed at enlightening others about the Islamic religion, fostering understanding, and promoting interfaith dialogue. ## **3. Sohbet** Sohbet Society takes its name from one of our most widespread activities – Sohbet. Sohbet, meaning 'to talk, converse, discuss, and engage,' involves hosting religious circles or study groups. These gatherings, comprising between five to ten participants, provide a safe and friendly space for discussing faith, religion, and society. We read and reflect on religious texts, typically excerpts from the Qur'an or religious commentaries, during these sessions, which are convened weekly. ## **4. Mentoring** We provide one-to-one religious mentoring to adult Muslims, focusing on the requirements of religious and spiritual life. These mentoring sessions are conducted through visits, offering personalized guidance and support to our community members. 3 ## **5. Retreats** Throughout the year, we organize retreats that centre around reading, prayer, spiritual activities, and discussions. These retreats, which last between three to five days, are held in rural country homes, providing a peaceful environment for reflection and spiritual growth. ## **6. Excursions** Recognizing the value of outdoor excursions and trips, we organize short excursions throughout the year. These trips offer participants the opportunity to think, reflect, and renew their spirits. ## **7. Qur'an Lessons** Understanding the Qur'an's meaning and learning to read it in its original Arabic form are central to our activities. We provide classes and one-to-one lessons in Qur'an reading for adults, promoting spiritual growth, and enabling prescribed prayer. ## **8. Social Events** We believe that faith is not only personal but also social. To foster social engagement and community, we organize medium- to large-scale social events. These events include public conferences, celebrations, and summer fairs, providing opportunities for people to explore and experience religion in a public context. ## **9. Fundraising** We organize an annual fundraising dinner where we request our beneficiaries to support our work by making annual donations payable over monthly or quarterly instalments. These donations are crucial for sustaining and expanding our activities. ## **10. Conclusion** The Sohbet Society remains committed to advancing the religion of Islam and promoting understanding and harmony in the communities we serve. We are grateful for the support of our members, donors, and partners who have made our efforts possible. We look forward to continuing our mission in the coming year, striving to create a more informed and engaged community. Thank you for your trust in our organization. For more information or to request additional details about our annual activities and financial statement, please contact us at 02081233323 or info@sohbetsociety.org . Sincerely, 4 ## **SOHBET SOCIETY** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO TRUSTEES OF SOHBET SOCIETY** I report on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31 December 2023 which are set out on pages 10 to 20 ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts Regulations 2006. The charity trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (a) to (c) of the 2006 Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement** My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention other than disclosed below. 1.which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: •to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations •to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations have not been met, or 2.to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached **.** AA Accountancy Services Chartered Certified Accountant 244 Chase Road, London, N14 6HH Date: 16/10/2024 5 ## **SOHBET SOCIETY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** ## **(Incorporating income and expenditure account) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** |**Unristricted**
**Notes**
**Funds**
**INCOME AND EXPENDITURES**
**£**
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
Incoming resources from generated funds:
Voluntary income
2
87403
Activities for generating funds
3
1980
Investment income
4
Incoming resources from charitable activities
5
Other incoming resources
6
**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**
89383
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
charitable Activities
7
74307
Governance Costs
8
5488
Other resources expended
9
0
**TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED**
11
79795
**NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES**
**before transfers**
**21**
9588
**Transfersbetween funds**
-
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS FOR THE YEAR**
9588
**Total Funds at 1 January 2023**
-9352
Prior Year Adjustment (Note 20)
0
**Total Funds at 31 DECEMBER 2023**
236
=====|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
0
0
0
0
-
0
0
0
0
0
0
-
0
0
0
0
=====|**2023**
**Total**
**£**
87,403
1980
0
0
0
89383
74307
5488
0
79795
9588
-
9588
-9352
0
236
=====|**2022**
**Total**
**£**
48,417
2676
0
0
525| |---|---|---|---| ||||51618| ||||50363
5490
0| ||||55853| ||||-4235
-| ||||-4235
-5117
0
-9352
=====| The notes on pages 12 to 22 form part of these accounts. 6 ## **SOHBET SOCIETY** ## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023** |**Notes**
**2023**
**₤**
15
0
Programme related investments
**16**
0
0
Debtors
**17**
2700
Investments
0
4079
6779
**18**
-6543
236
**19**
0
236
**=====**
**21**
0
**21**
236
236
**=====**
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Cash at bank and in hand
Restricted funds
**CHARITY FUNDS**
Unrestricted funds
**CREDITORS:**Amounts falling due
within one year
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Net current assets / (liabilities)**
**CREDITORS:**Amounts falling due
more than one year|**2022**
**₤**
0
0| |---|---| ||0
0
0
1576| ||1576
-10928| ||-9352
0| ||-9352
**=====**
0
-9352| ||-9352
**=====**| The notes on pages 16 to 24 from part of these accounts. Approved by the Board of Trustees on 30 September 2024 and signed on its behalf by Bilal Karaduman, Trustee. Bilal Karaduman Chairman 7 **SOHBET SOCIETY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** ## **1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements** The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008). The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' published in March 2005 and applicable accounting standards. ## **1.2 Fund accounting** General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund. ## **1.3 Incoming resources** All incoming resources are included in the Statement of financial activities when the charity has entitlement to the funds, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. Donated services or facilities, which comprise donated services, are included in income at a valuation which is an estimate of the financial cost borne by the donor where such a cost is quantifiable and measurable No income is recognised where there is no financial cost borne by a third party. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation. Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable ## **1.4 Resources expended** Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular activities they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resources. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements. Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is made except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching are fulfilled, Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end are noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure. 8 ## **SOHBET SOCIETY** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)** ## **1.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation** All assets costing more than £ _500_ are capitalised. Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases: Fixtures and fittings 25% reducing balance ## **1.6 Foreign currencies** Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rate ruling on the date of the transaction. Exchange gains and losses are recognised in the Statement of financial activities. ## **1.7 Programme related investment** Programme related investments are stated at the cost of investment. |**2. VOLUNTARY INCOME**
Donations
Grants
**Voluntary Income**
**3. TRADING ACTIVITIES**
**Charity trading income**
Charity trading income-Domestic
Net income from trading activities|**Unristricted**
**Funds**
**£**
62376
25027
87403
**Unristricted**
**Funds**
**£**
1980
1980|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
0
0
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
0|**2023**
**Total**
**£**
62376
25027
87403
**2023**
**Total**
**£**
1980
1980|**2022**
**Total**
**£**
24929
23488| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||48417| |||||**2022**
**Total**
**£**
2676| |||||2676| 9 ## **SOHBET SOCIETY** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** |**4. INVESTMENT INCOME**
**Unristricted**
**Funds**
**£**
Rental Income
**5. INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE**
**Unristricted**
**Funds**
**£**
Educational Activities
**6. OTHER INCOMING RESOURCES**
**Unristricted**
**Funds**
**£**
Other incoming resources
**7. EXPENDITURE BY CHARITABLE ACTIVITY**
**SUMMARY BY FUND TYPE**
**Unristricted**
**Funds**
**£**
Direct costs
74307
Governance costs
5488
79795
**SUMMARY BY EXPENDITURE TYPE**
**Staff**
**Costs**
**£**
Investment Income
36343
Meeting Expenses
36343|**Restricted**
**2023**
**Funds**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
0
0
**ACTIVITIES**
**Restricted**
**2023**
**Funds**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
0
0
**Restricted**
**2023**
**Funds**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
0
0
**Restricted**
**2023**
**Funds**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
0
74307
5488
0
79795
**Other**
**2023**
**Costs**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
74307
110650
0
74307
110650|**2022**
**Total**
**£**
0| |---|---|---| |||**2022**
**Total**
**£**| |||**2022**
**Total**
**£**| |||525| |||**2022**
**Total**
**£**
50363
5490| |||55853| |||**2022**
**Total**
**£**
0
0| |||0| 10 ## **SOHBET SOCIETY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** |**8. GOVERNANCE COSTS**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
Governance- Accountants fees
600
Governance - Other expenses
Governance - Premises costs for head office
Governance - telephone
Governance expense - computer expenses
61
Governance expense - wages and salaries
4039
Governance expense - NI
788
Governance - depreciation - tangible fixed assets
5488
====
**9. OTHER RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
Loss((profit) on disposal of fixed asset
0
====
**10. DIRECT COSTS**
**Basis of Unrestricted**
**Allocation**
**Funds**
**£**
Educational supplies
Direct
0
Charitable Contribution
Direct
1330
Volunteer expenses
Direct
30000
Premises
Direct
Insurance
Direct
385
Consultancy fees
Direct
Professional fees
Direct
1000
Printing, Postage and Stationary
Direct
28
Equipment Hire
Direct
Telephone
Direct
Travel and substance
Direct
3148
Repairs and Renewals
Direct
Bank Charges
Direct
256
Paypal fee
Direct
0
Subscriptions
Direct
3
Miscellaneous
Direct
227
Advertising
Direct
270
Meeting expenses
Direct
0
Computer costs
Direct
546
Wages and salaries
Direct
36343
Pension
Direct
771
Purchases
Direct
74307
====
11|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
600
61
4039
788|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
0
====
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
0
====
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
0
====|**2023**
**Total**
**£**
600
0
0
0
61
4039
788
0|**2022**
**Total**
**£**
500
8
0
4457
525| |---|---|---|---|---| ||5488
====
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**||5488
====
**2023**
**Total**
**£**|5490
====
**2022**
**Total**
**£**| ||||0
====
**2023**
**Total**
**£**
0
1330
30000
0
385
0
1000
28
0
0
3148
0
256
0
3
227
270
-
546
36343
771
0|0
====
**2022**
**Total**
**£**
0
2961
0
0
359
0
0
107
0
75
0
0
266
0
156
15
492
5481
0
40114
337| ||74307
====
11||74307
====|50363
====| ## **SOHBET SOCIETY** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **11. ANALYSIS OF RESOURCES EXPENDED BY EXPENDITURE TYPE** |**Staff Costs**
**Depreciation**
**Other Costs**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
Investment Income
0
0
74307
74307
Meeting Expenses
0
0
0
0
**Charitable activities**
0
0
74307
74307
**Governance**
4827
0
661
5488
**Other costs**
**Loss on disposal of fixed assets**
0
0
0
0
4827
0
74968
79795
**12. ANALYSIS OF RESOURCES EXPENDED BY ACTIVITIES**
**Activities undertaken**
**Total**
**Directly**
**Support Costs**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
Investment Income
74307
0
74307
Educational Activities
0
5488
5488
**Total**
74307
5488
79795|**2023**
**£**
74307
0|**2022**
**£**
0
40114| |---|---|---| ||74307|40114| ||5488
0|4982
508
0| ||79795|45604| |||**Total**
**2022**
**£**
50372| ||79795|50372| ## **13. NET INCOMING RESOURCES** This is stated after charging: |**13. NET INCOMING RESOURCES**
This is stated after charging:||| |---|---|---| ||**2023**|**2022**| ||**£**|**£**| |Depreciation of tangible fixed assets: owned by charity|0|| |Auditor's remuneration|0|0| |Governance Accountant fees|600|500| During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration (2020 -£NIL). During the year, no Trustees received any benefits in kind (2020 -£NIL). During the year, no Trustees received any reimbursement of expenses (2020 -£NIL). ## **14. STAFF COSTS** Staff costs were as follows: |Wages and salaries
Social security costs
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:|**2023**
**£**
40382
788
41170
**2023**
**No.**|**2022**
**£**
44571
525| |---|---|---| |||45096| |||**2022**
**No.**| No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year. 12 ## **SOHBET SOCIETY** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **15. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS** |**15. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**|| |---|---| |**Cost**
At 31.12.22
Additions
At 31.12.23
**Depreciation**
At 31.12.22
charge for period
At 31.12.23
**Net book values**
**At 31.12.23**
**At 31.12.22**|**TOTAL**
**£**
0
0| ||0| ||0
0| ||0| ||0| ||0| ## **16. PROGRAMME RELATED INVESTMENT** |Market Value
At 1 January 2023
and 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022|**Mortgage**
**£**|**Mortgage**
**£**|**£**|**Alterations to**
**Premises**
**£**|**Total**
**£**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||| Programme related investments enable other charities to further their charitable objectives as well as ours in advance of furthering the education of students throughout the UK. Total bank loans at the year end of £0 are owed in relation to the Programme Related Investments held. 13 ## **SOHBET SOCIETY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **17. DEBTORS** |**EBTORS**||| |---|---|---| ||**2023**|**2022**| ||**£**|**£**| |Due after more than one year||| |Other Debtors||**0**| |Due within one year||| |Trade debtors|2700|| |Other debtors|0|| ||2700|| ## **18. CREDITORS:** Amount falling due within one year |**2023**
**£**
Bank loans and Overdraft
Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
5928
Accruals and deferred income
615
6543|**2022**
**£**
271
10657| |---|---| ||10928| ## **19. CREDITORS:** Amount falling due after one year ||**2023**|**2022**| |---|---|---| ||**£**|**£**| |Bank loans||| |Other creditors||| |||| |Creditors include amounts not wholly repayable within 5 years as follows:||| ||**2023**|**2022**| ||**£**|**£**| |Repayable by instalments||| Bank loans are secured by way of a charge over the freehold buildings of the charity. 14 ## **SOHBET SOCIETY** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **20. PRIOR YEAR ADJUSTMENT** There is no prior year adjsutment this year ## **21. STATEMENT OF FUNDS** |**Designated Funds**
**General Funds**
General Funds-all funds
**Total Unrestricted funds**
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds-all funds
**Total of funds**
**SUMMARY OF FUNDS**
General Funds
Restricted funds|**Brought**
**Forward**
**£**
-9352
-9352
0
-9352
**Restated**
**Brought**
**Forward**
**£**
-9352
0
-9352|**Incoming**
**Resources**
**£**
89383
89383
0
89383
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**£**
89383
0
89383|**Resources**
**Expended**
**£**
(79795)
(79795)
(79795)
**Resources**
**Expended**
**£**
(79795)
-79795|**Transfers**
**In/Out**
**£**
0|**Carried**
**Forward**
**£**
236| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||||0|236| |||||0|0| |||||0|236| |||||**Transfers**
**In/Out**
**£**
0
0|**Carried**
**Forward**
**£**
236
0| |||||0|236| 15 ## **SOHBET SOCIETY** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **22. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS** |Tangible fixed assets
Programme related investments
Debtors due after more than 1 year
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Creditors due in more than one year|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
**£**
£
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6779
0
6779
0
-6543
0
-6543
0
0
0
0
0| |---|---| ||**236**
**0**
**236**
**0**| ## **23. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS** There was not any related party transaction with any of the trustees this year and last year. 16