BONG JUNCTION
Registered Charity Number: 1210997 Principal Office: 18 Manor Road, Cheam, Sutton, SM2 7AF
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD 19 NOVEMBER 2024 TO 31 AUGUST 2025
PART 1: TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT
The Trustees of Bong Junction present their first Annual Report and the unaudited financial statements for the period from incorporation on 19 November 2024 to 31 August 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the Charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011, and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
1. Reference and Administrative Details
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Charity Name: Bong Junction
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Registered Charity Number: 1210997 (Registered in England & Wales)
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Governing Document: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Constitution ("Foundation" Model)
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Date of Registration: 19 November 2024
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Principal & Contact Address: 18 Manor Road, Cheam, Sutton, SM2 7AF
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Bankers: * Bank Name: Metro Bank
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Account Name: BONG JUNCTION
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Account Number: 54121687
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Sort Code: 23-05-80
Trustees (who served during the period and up to the date of signing):
The Charity's constitution states that the charity trustees have control of the CIO and its property. The original trustees who signed the constitution on 16 November 2024 and served throughout the period are:
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Sanjay Dasgupta (President)
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Dr Arunava Dhar (General Secretary)
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Somak Roy (Trustee)
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Palash Chatterjee (Trustee)
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Prasun Singha (Trustee)
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Manojit Roy (Trustee)
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Ranadip Chatterjee (Treasurer)
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Subhashish Roy (Trustee)
2. Structure, Governance, and Management
2.1 Constitution and Governing Structure
Bong Junction is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by a "Foundation" model constitution dated 16 November 2024 and formally registered by the Charity Commission on 19 November 2024. Under the Foundation model, the only voting members of the CIO are its Charity Trustees.
2.2 Trustee Appointment and Induction
The constitution dictates that:
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There must be at least three and not more than nine trustees.
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Every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees.
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New trustees are chosen based on their skills, experience, and commitment to the Charity's objects. Upon appointment, new trustees are provided with a copy of the constitution, the latest trustees' annual report and accounts, and relevant Charity Commission guidance (such as The Essential Trustee (CC3) ).
2.3 Organizational Structure and Decision Making
The Board of Trustees meets regularly (at least quarterly) to review strategic direction, financial performance, risk management, and operational initiatives. Day-to-day coordination of social, cultural, and fundraising activities is carried out collectively by the trustees alongside a dedicated team of community volunteers.
All decisions regarding significant expenditures, contract commitments, and policy changes are discussed and formally voted upon at trustee meetings, with minutes recorded and kept at the principal office.
2.4 Risk Management
The trustees have reviewed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, particularly those related to the financial sustainability of community events, public safety during cultural festivals, and governance compliance. Adequate insurance has been taken from time to time to cover for exposed financial risks.
3. Objectives and Activities
3.1 Charitable Objects
As set out in Clause 3 of its Constitution, the objects of Bong Junction are for the public benefit:
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To advance the Hindu religion by organising Hindu religious ceremonies and performing traditional rites and practices.
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To advance Bengali arts, culture, and heritage by organizing various cultural events and social activities.
3.2 Vision, Core Ethos, and Guiding Principles
Bong Junction was founded by a group of community members sharing a deep bond with their Bengali roots and an active desire to give back to society in the United Kingdom and internationally. The Charity is run on a set of core guiding principles:
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No Personal Profiteering: Absolutely no personal profiteering is permitted from the social or cultural activities of the Charity.
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Financial Transparency: Complete transparency of accounts and financial decisions is maintained with all members and supporters.
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Intergenerational Engagement: Bringing together all generations of the British-Bengali diaspora ( Probashi Bangali ) in ways that encourage integration, learning, and celebration.
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Meaningful Charitable Giving: Creating an environment that gives back to broader society through targeted charitable initiatives.
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Inclusivity: Creating an open, collaborative environment that values every team member's contributions.
3.3 Main Activities and Public Benefit
To achieve its objects, the Charity organizes religious events, cultural festivals, Bengali artistic sessions, sports tournaments, health workshops, and social gatherings.
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on Public Benefit when planning and reviewing the Charity's activities. All events organized by Bong Junction are open to the general public, promoting cultural cohesion and religious understanding within the wider community of London and South England.
4. Achievements and Performance
During its first operational period (19 November 2024 to 31 August 2025), Bong Junction established a vibrant presence, executing several landmark activities that attracted high community turnout and met both religious and cultural objectives.
4.1 Key Events and Social Activities
- Gala Christmas Evening (7 December 2024): The Charity hosted its inaugural festive evening shortly after registration. The event successfully brought families together to
celebrate the festive season, integrating western seasonal traditions with traditional Bengali hospitality. It featured children's cultural programs, community food stalls, and interactive games, successfully initiating our community engagement strategy.
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Bong Junction - "Cha-er Adda" @ London Mahotsav 2025: The Charity launched its highly popular "Cha-er Adda" discussion hub as an interactive platform at London Mahotsav 2025. This cultural and social pavilion served to promote Bengali heritage, foster lively community dialogue, support mental well-being, and plan our collaborative charitable and volunteer efforts for the upcoming seasons.
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Preparatory Setup for Durga Puja 2025: A substantial portion of the charity’s operational energy in mid-2025 was focused on securing venue hires, scheduling religious rites, and receiving subscriptions for the upcoming Durga Puja festival. This is the cornerstone religious celebration for our community, and the early booking of spaces and procurement of ritual goods ensured the festival could be delivered safely and successfully.
4.2 Volunteers and Support
The Trustees express their deepest gratitude to the volunteers, coordinators, and local families whose unpaid efforts in setup, catering, performing, and managing venues made these events possible. Over 20 volunteers contributed their time, helping keep operational overheads remarkably low.
5. Financial Review
5.1 Results for the Period
The Charity’s financial position at 31 August 2025 is considered strong for its first year of operation.
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Total Income: £14,584.07
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Total Expenditure: £7,137.07
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Net Surplus (Net Profit): £7,447.00
5.2 Analysis of Income
The principal funding sources during this initial period were:
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Durgapuja Subscription (£5,400.00 - 37% of income): Advance registrations and dedicated contributions from members specifically restricted to facilitating the religious Durga Puja ceremonies.
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General Donations (£4,351.00 - 30% of income): Generous direct contributions from trustees, members, and patrons to support the establishing phase of the Charity.
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Ticket Sales (£2,479.50 - 17% of income): Income generated from cultural dinners, seasonal celebrations, and festive events.
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Member Subscriptions (£1,080.00 - 7% of income): Annual contributions from registered members supporting the baseline operating costs.
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Other Trading and Commercial Income: Comprising Stall Space rentals to community vendors (£550.00), Corporate Sponsorships (£670.00), and small-scale General Sales
(£53.57).
5.3 Analysis of Expenditure
Total spending of £7,137.07 was split between direct event delivery and essential administrative overheads:
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Goods and Materials (£4,684.78 - 66% of expenditure): Direct costs of purchasing festival materials, decorations, religious ceremonial items, food provisions, and community event supplies.
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Subcontractors (£1,620.00 - 23% of expenditure): Engagement of external professional service providers, including sound engineers, venue decorators, and cultural performers.
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Rent (£519.15 - 7% of expenditure): Venue and hall hire for community gatherings, picnics, and rehearsals.
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Governance & Administration (£313.14 - 4% of expenditure): Comprising Business Insurance (£68.46), Accountancy Fees (£54.00), Website and software platforms (£40.69), Advertising and outreach (£88.65), Travel and subsistence (£56.80), and Bank charges (£4.54).
No trustee received any remuneration, benefits, or personal compensation during this financial period.
5.4 Reserves Policy
The Trustees have established a Reserves Policy to ensure the stability of the Charity's ongoing operations.
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Target Reserve: The Charity aims to maintain an unrestricted free reserve equivalent to at least six months of essential operating and governance overheads (estimated at approximately £1,500) plus a designated contingency of £2,000 to cover non-refundable deposits for major venue hires (such as halls for Durga Puja and cultural galas).
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Current Reserves Position: At 31 August 2025, the Charity held £7,447.00 in total reserves. This surplus is held entirely in cash within the Charity’s current account. A significant portion of this surplus is designated to fund the direct, upcoming delivery costs of the Autumn 2025 Durga Puja and Winter 2025 Christmas initiatives, leaving the baseline unrestricted reserves well within the target threshold.
6. Plans for Future Periods
Bong Junction plans to build on the success of its initial months by:
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Securing Permanent Cultural Venue Partnerships: Establishing long-term rental agreements with local community halls in Sutton to provide predictable scheduling for religious festivals and weekly workshops.
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Expanding Bengali Language and Arts Classes: Initiating weekend cultural classes for children to teach Bengali language, classical music, and traditional arts, directly advancing our cultural preservation objects.
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Expanding Charitable Outreaches: Initiating formal fundraising events to support local
food banks in Surrey and educational charities in West Bengal, India.
- HMRC Gift Aid Registration: Registering the Charity with HMRC for Gift Aid to maximize the value of eligible individual donations by 25%.
Declaring Statement
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees' Report above.
Signed on behalf of the Charity's Trustees:
Sanjay Dasgupta, President Date: 24 May 2026
Dr Arunava Dhar, General Secretary Date: 24 May 2026
PART 2: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Receipts and Payments Account
For the period 19 November 2024 to 31 August 2025
| Category | Note | Unrestricted Funds (£) |
Restricted Funds (£) |
Total Funds 2025 (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RECEIPTS | ||||
| Donations and Legacies |
3 | 4,351.00 | - | 4,351.00 |
| Member Subscriptions |
1,080.00 | - | 1,080.00 | |
| Ticket Sales | 2,479.50 | - | 2,479.50 | |
| Durga Puja Subscriptions |
4 | - | 5,400.00 | 5,400.00 |
| Stall Space Rental |
550.00 | - | 550.00 | |
| Corporate Sponsorship |
670.00 | - | 670.00 | |
| General Sales | 53.57 | - | 53.57 | |
| Total Receipts | 9,184.07 | 5,400.00 | 14,584.07 |
| (A) PAYMENTS Goods, Materials & Supplies 5 2,184.78 2,500.00 4,684.78 Subcontractor s 620.00 1,000.00 1,620.00 Venue Rent 519.15 - 519.15 Business Insurance 68.46 - 68.46 Accountancy & Filing Fees 54.00 - 54.00 Website & Sofware Costs 40.69 - 40.69 Advertising & Outreach 88.65 - 88.65 Travel & Subsistence 56.80 - 56.80 Bank Charges 4.54 - 4.54 Total Payments (B) 3,637.07 3,500.00 7,137.07 Net Receipts / (Payments) (A - B) 5,547.00 1,900.00 7,447.00 Cash funds at start of period - - - |
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| Cash funds at end of period |
5,547.00 | 1,900.00 | 7,447.00 | |
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As of 31 August 2025
| Asset Category |
Description | Unrestricted (£) |
Restricted (£) | Total (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASH FUNDS | ||||
| Bank Current Account |
Barclays Business Account |
5,547.00 | 1,900.00 | 7,447.00 |
| Total Cash Funds |
5,547.00 | 1,900.00 | 7,447.00 | |
| OTHER ASSETS |
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| Equipment | Pre-paid storage items / banners |
350.00 | - | 350.00 |
| Debtors | Outstanding sponsorships |
- | - | - |
| LIABILITIES | ||||
| Accruals | Unpaid invoices at period end |
(54.00) | - | (54.00) |
Notes to the Financial Statements
Note 1: Basis of Preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on a "Receipts and Payments" basis, which is
allowable for small Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) with an annual gross income of £250,000 or less under the Charities Act 2011. All transactions are recorded at the point where physical cash is paid out or received into the Charity's bank account.
Note 2: Funds Accounting
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Unrestricted Funds: These represent general funds that can be used at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of any of the Charity's objects.
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Restricted Funds: These are funds received with specific restrictions imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal. Bong Junction's restricted funds during the period relate directly to the Durga Puja Subscriptions , which were raised specifically to cover materials, priestly rites, venue rental, and cultural items associated only with the Durga Puja religious celebrations.
Note 3: Donations & Legacies
General donations of £4,351.00 include start-up gifts provided directly by the establishing trustees and community patrons to facilitate the immediate legal setup, insurance, and operational costs of the CIO.
Note 4: Restricted Durga Puja Fund
During the period, £5,400.00 was raised via designated subscriptions for Durga Puja. Of this, £3,500.00 was spent during the financial period on essential puja goods, materials, and preparatory sub-contractors. The remaining balance of £1,900.00 is held as restricted cash carried forward and is fully allocated to be spent during the Autumn 2025 festival delivery.
Note 5: Goods, Materials & Supplies
This category includes:
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Festive catering & communal food preparations ( Prasad and Bhog ): £2,150.00
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Traditional ritual items, idols, and decorations: £1,580.00
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Event safety materials, banners, and stationery: £954.78
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Total: £4,684.78
Note 6: Trustee Remuneration and Expenses
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No Trustee received any remuneration, salary, or financial benefit from the Charity during the period.
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No Trustee was reimbursed for personal expenses, except for direct material purchases made on behalf of the Charity, which were fully evidenced by third-party receipts and approved in accordance with the Internal Financial Controls Policy.
PART 3: DECLARATION AND APPROVAL
The Trustees approve these accounts and confirm that they have made available all relevant
records and information for their compilation.
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 24 May 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Sanjay Dasgupta, President ________
Dr Arunava Dhar, General Secretary _____ Ranadip Chatterjee, Treasurer ______