Registered charity number: 1207113
Trustees’ Annual Report Financial year end: 30/11/24
1
Gardens of Mercy
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 30 November 2024
The trustees of the Garden of Mercy (GoM) present their first annual report since its registration with the Charity Commission on 20 February 2024 up to the end of the financial year, 30 November 2024. They confirm that they comply with the Charities Act 2011.
Reference and administration information
Charity Name: Gardens of Mercy Charity Registration Number: 1207113 Registered address: 19 Greenbank Ave Plymouth PL4 8PS
Board of Trustees:
Dr Salim Husain Mahadik (Chair) Ayman Almerei Khalil Rahman Amir Gul Moshahid Ali Syed Humayun Kobir Ishak Mohammed Almor Sulleiman Jumaa Dr Aklak Miah Susette Muslimah Parry Mansell Ahmed Dr Roksana Ferdousi Haroon Azimi Abul Hasnat Dr Ishaka Shitu Dr Omar Almasri Dr Dureid Rifai Amir Abdullah Ahmad Mohammed Suruj Miah Dr Hawa Abdulmajid Gashut Tafiqul Islam Dr Hassan Sdiq Dr Mohammed Omer Abubakr Liakoth Ali Dr Ahmed Elmasry Buyondo Mohamed Muganzi
2
Accountants:
Akim Madimba The Mickdreybshire Accountants Ltd Rear of 55 Ebrington Street Plymouth PL4 9AA
Bankers:
Natwest Bank Westgate Street Launceston Cornwall PL15 7AG
3
Structure, governance and management
Governing document
Gardens of Mercy is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission on 20 February 2024 under charity number 1207113. It is governed by a constitution, last updated on 23 January 2024.
Organisational structure
The board of trustees are responsible for the general control and management of the charity. All trustees give their time freely and receive no financial or other benefits.
The trustees meet regularly – approximately once a month, as the need arises, and are responsible for all decisions taken by the charity. On-line access is provided for those unable to attend in person. To help in the smooth running of the charity, the trustees have set up a number of sub-committees whose membership reflects the particular skill-set that trustees can bring to help the charity oversee certain aspects of the charity’s work. The chair of trustees chairs the meetings and minutes are taken. All action plans are undertaken with the majority of trustees’ approval.
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
The existing trustees are responsible for the recruitment of new trustees who may be nominated by any of the mosques and community centres representing the various Muslim populations in Devon and Cornwall. This ensures that new trustees are respected members who represent their local community well, and thereby help foster good relations with the Muslims that the charity serves.
In appointing new trustees, GoM seeks to identify people who will play key roles in the charity, in order to encourage donors and donations from the community, to regularly attend events, and willing to volunteer their time and efforts. Potential trustees are invited to attend trustees’ meetings as observers, familiarised in the aims and objectives of the charity and the current activities....
Induction and training of trustees
Following appointment, new trustees will be given a full induction and provided with the latest copy of the governing document in addition to GoM’s latest trustees’ annual report and statement of accounts. They will be directed to a number of relevant Charity Commission publications.
Statement of trustees’ responsibilities
4
Charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The Charity Commission requires the trustees of a charity to:
-
Select suitable accounting policies, apply them consistently, make judgement and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
-
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless there is a reason to believe that the charity will not continue for the foreseeable future.
The trustees are responsible for the keeping of proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charity Act 2011.
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence to take reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Risk management
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the charity, and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
Objectives and activities
Our aims
The objects of the charity are set out in the charity’s constitution as follows:
To promote the Islamic religion by providing funeral services and maintaining land for the benefit of the Muslim public in Devon and Cornwall, according to the principles of the Islamic religion.
Our objectives
Our objectives are set to reflect our faith requirements in providing land for burial of Muslims and to act on behalf of the Muslim community to meet their needs, in procedures and practices, relating to the internment of the deceased. In setting the objectives and associated activities, the trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit.
Strategies (for achieving objectives)
5
As of 20/02/24, the inception of the charity, GoM had acquired approximately 6 acres of land adjacent to South Hill Road, Callington in Cornwall – approximately 30 minutes from Plymouth. A further 4.34 acres adjacent to the existing site was purchased in March 2024 to achieve the mentioned objectives. This land was chosen for a number of reasons for benefit to the public:
-
the approximate central location between the two counties of Devon and Cornwall
-
ease of access and road links for those burying their deceased
-
cost-effective land price to reduce overall burial costs
An important part of our strategy is to consult the local community around the site of the proposed cemetery welcoming the participation of individuals and receive feedback
Advice and was sought from those who manage cemeteries, natural burial sites, and from conferences in the pursuit of our objectives.
Limited by financial constraints, the charity trustees decided to pursue obtaining planning permission from Cornwall Council ourselves without hiring a development body.
Activities and achievements
GoM is a new charity with a long-term aim for the foreseeable future of Muslims living in Devon and Cornwall. All our activities have been congruent with our strategies. Activities undertaken to achieve objectives are listed below:
-
Purchase of approximately 10.3 acres of land for the potential future long term burial of Muslims
-
To raise awareness, a total of 5 public consultations were held to brief the public, Muslim and non-Muslim alike of our aims and plans with the purchased land
-
Commission all the necessary surveys, groundwater risk-assessments and architectural plans.
-
Application for planning permission to Cornwall Council for the Change of Use of Land
Public benefit
Taking into account the above, the trustees have concluded the charity meets the public benefit requirements as follows:
-
The charity is able to advance the cause of Muslim burials in Devon and Cornwall
-
When operational, the charity will provide cost-effective burials, considerably less than local council owned cemeteries or cost even less for those with less means or undergoing financial hardship.
6
Financial review
Financial position
Total incoming resources: £36,585 Total expended resources: £ 8.903 Net outgoing resources: £27.682
The charity is not in any debt of any type and expects to be enthusiastically supported by the local Muslim community in order to avoid going into debt. Expenditure in the year under review has supported the key objectives of the charity by facilitating the actives mentioned.
Reserves policy
A reserve policy to cover funds required for the maintenance of the land will be in place when an approved burial ground has been acquired.
Principal funding sources
The charity’s main source of income is through donations either through bank transfer, in person at the various community mosques or through visiting donors at their homes and places of work. Interest free Islamically acceptable interest free loans (Qardh Hasana) were accepted and paid back.
Plans for future
To continue the charity’s work, future plans include:
-
Continuing to raise funds.
-
Further improving our financial risk management
-
Obtain a cemetery for Muslim burial in Devon and Cornwall
-
Develop the associated aspects of the charity such as bereavement counseling and increasing educational awareness.
Signed on behalf of the trustees of GoM,
Dr Salim Mahadik (Chair)
Dated: 27/09/25
7
| ApproirerlStatement | 1 |
|---|---|
| Accountants Report | 2 |
| Profitarrd LossAccount | 3 |
| Balance Sheet | 4 |
| Notes tcrthe Accounts | 5-7 |
| 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| I | ||
| Donations | 36,585 | |
| Cost ofsetles | ||
| Construction industry subcontractor costs | ||
| Other direct costs | ||
| Grossprofit | - | 36,595 |
| Otherincomelprofits | ||
| Expenses | ||
| Employeecosts | ||
| Premisescosts | ||
| Repairs | ||
| General administrative expenses | ||
| Motor expenses | ||
| Travelandsubsistence | ||
| Advertising, promotion and enlertainment | I | |
| Legal and professional costs | 8,895 | |
| Baddebtsi | ||
| lnterest | ||
| Other finance charges | ||
| Depreciation | ||
| Loss/(profit) on disposalofassets | ||
| Other expenses | ||
| '- | e903 | |
| Profit/(L.oss) | 27,682 |
| Notes | 2424 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| € | |||
| Fixed assets | |||
| lntangihle assets | 3 | ||
| Tangible assets | 4 | 46,290 | |
| 46,290 | |||
| Current assets | |||
| StockandWorkin Progress | |||
| Debtors and Prepayments | |||
| Cash at bank | -18,608 | ||
| Cash in hand | |||
| -18,608i | |||
| Currentliabilities | |||
| Trade creditors laccruals | |||
| Loans and bank overdrafts | |||
| Other liabilities | |||
| Netcurrent assetsl(liabilities) | -18,608 | ||
| Loans dueaftermorethanone | year | ||
| Net assets/(liabilities) | 27,682 | ||
| Capitalaccount | |||
| Balance at the startof theperriod | |||
| Net profit/(loss) | |||
| Capital introduced | |||
| Drawings |
| Pnofitand lossaccountanalysis | |
|---|---|
| 2024 | |
| E | |
| Donations | |
| Donations | 36,595 |
| 36,595 | |
| Cost of sales | |
| Purchases | |
| Decreaseinstocks | |
| Construction industry subcontractor costs | |
| Subcontractorcosts | |
| Otherdirect costs | |
| Direct labour | |
| Diecountsallowerd | |
| Commissions payable | |
| Other direct costs | |
| Otherincomelprofits | |
| lnterest receivable | |
| Rental income | |
| Discounts receiverj | |
| Employeecosts | |
| Wagesand salaries | |
| Pensions | |
| Bonuses | |
| EmployersNI | |
| Staff traininganrJ'ruelfare |
| 2024 | |
|---|---|
| € | |
| Pnemisescosts | |
| Rent and rates | |
| Light and heat | |
| Cleaning | |
| Useofhome | |
| Repairs | |
| Repairs andmaintetnance | |
| Generaladministrativeexpenses | |
| Telephone | |
| Printing, postage and stationery | |
| $ubscriptions | |
| lnsurance | |
| Hireofequipment | |
| Computer expenses | |
| Motor expenses | |
| Motor expenses | |
| Tnavelandsubsistencer | |
| Travel andsubsisternce | |
| Adrrertising,promotionandentertainment | |
| Advertising andPR Entertainment |
I |
| I | |
| Legal andprofessional costs | |
| Accountantsfees | |
| Solicitors fees | 180 |
| Other legal andprofessionalfees | 9,715 |
| Consultancy fees | |
| Managementfee,s | |
| g,gg5 |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Gardens of Mercy On acGounts for the yoar ended 3¢>11-2024 Charity no {if any) 1207113 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity I'the TNsl"} for the y8ar ended Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basts of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {"the Act'i. I r8POrt 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)(bl of the Act, I have completed my examination. I confimi 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 wth section 130 of -the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examinevs statement I have no concems 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 wortls in the bRckets if they do not apply. Signed: ,rJ. Date: 2310912025 Name: Akim Madimba Relevant professional qualifi¢ationlsl or body Ilf any): Address: Rear of 55 Ebrington Street Plymouth PL4 9AA IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight Matters of conc6m {s6è CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. diréctions and guidance for examiners). Give here brfef details of any itenis that. the examinpr wishes to disclosi IER October 2018