Islami Darasgah Bristol
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2024
The trustees present their annual report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Reference and Administrative Information.
Charity Name : Islami Darasgah Bristol Charity Number : 260804 Principal Office : Hazrat Bilal Centre 41 Sevier Street St Werburghs, BRISTOL, BS2 9QX Board of Trustees Chairman Sajid Mahmood Treasurer Fiaz Ahmed Secretary Amar Ahmed Governing Committee Members Tahir Mahmood, Mohammad Sharif, Faizaan Hussain, Akram Hussain, Shaukat Ali, Malik Yasin, Nomaan Hussain Mohammed Iqbal, Mohammed Younis Imam Mohammed Altaf, Malik Asim Khan Principal Administrator Tahir Mahmood Accounts Prepared by Mohammed Farooq Auditor Mohammed Shakeel 18 Ingmire Road BRISTOL Bankers Barclays Bank PLC 15 Queen Square, Harbourside BRISTOL, BS1 4NP
Islami Darasgah Bristol
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2024
Objectives aims and Strategies.
Our aims
The objects of the charity are set out in the charity's constitution and are summarised as follows: To promote Islam in accordance with the Holy Quran, Sunnah and Hadith for the benefit of the public through spiritual teaching and by conducting regular congregational prayers and ceremonies.
To promote Islamic education amongst both children and adults through holding regular classes and organising events and functions from time to time.
To relieve those Muslims who are in need.
The charity operates and runs Hazrat Bilal Centre Masjid. www.hazratbilal.org.uk
Our objectives
Our objectives are set to reflect our faith and community aims.
They are: -
To establish an efficient and effective governance structure with clear policies and procedures. To improve the educational services offered by establishing a high-quality centre of learning for both religious and secular teachings meeting the broad needs of the community.
To ensure women are provided with the highest standard of prayer facilities, educational services and social support.
To maintain and strengthen our partnerships with local and central government, interfaith forums and many other groups including local mosques.
To effectively manage the operations and expenditure of the Mosque with clarity and transparency. To promote and encourage the participation from youth and women.
To reject and condemn extremism and terrorism in all its forms and develop the self-confidence of Bristol's Muslims in their faith, and through our facilities and activities, help make our city a peaceful, vibrant and harmonious community.
To make the Mosque a vibrant, welcoming and active focal point for the whole community, Muslim and non-Muslim.
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.
Strategies
We want to ensure that we have a robust management structure, operational team and team of volunteers to deliver our objectives.
We want to engage with the community to ensure our objectives are aligned with their needs and expectations and secular teachings meeting the broad needs of the community.
We want to engage with the non-Muslim community, local authority and local charities to strengthen relationships with the wider community and deliver support and services for all.
We want to ensure that the Mosque supports those in need through the effective and robust collection and distribution of Zakat and Sadaqah payments.
We want to continually review the educational needs of the community and identify how the offering can be strengthened.
We want to make our organisation an accessible and welcoming venue where aII Muslims, or those who wish to know more about our faith, can gather to learn about their religion and worship.
Islami Darasgah Bristol is open for all five daily prayers, the Friday prayers being a focus of our weekly activities.
The charity aims to promote the Islamic faith by continuing to provide facilities for teaching both children and adults and through the holding of regular events for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
We participate in the ‘Diverse doors open day’ event each year as part of the Bristol Diverse Doors Open Day event organised by Bristol Multi faith forum. We open our doors to the public of Bristol to visit us look around and learn about our faith so that misconceptions can be rooted out and common faith tractions recognised.
An important part of our strategy is community welfare and education. AII our community facilities and activities including classes, health initiatives and seminars are advertised, and we welcome the participation of aII in our local community, Muslim and non-Muslim alike. Most of our activities are free and supported by donations. Where a charge is made, concessions are made for students, people on means-tested benefits and pensioners. Funds are raised to meet the charity's objectives by voluntary collections at the Masjid and from yearly donations from our members.
Structure, governance and management
Governing Document
Islami Darasgah (Bristol) is registered with the Charity Commission under Charity number 260804.The governing instrument is the Charity's Constitution.
Organisational structure
The charity’s Management committee are responsible for the general control and management of the charity. The committee members give their time freely and receive no remuneration or other financial benefits. The committee meet as a body monthly and as and when necessary and are responsible for all decisions taken in relation to running facilities and the activities provided by the charity. The day-to-day management of facilities and projects are delegated to staff and volunteers where appropriate.
Appointment of Committee Members
The Committee Members are appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) every year through an election process by the general members of Islami Darasgah Bristol.
In selecting new committee members, general members seek to identify people who regularly attend programmes, events and functions organised by the charity, are known to the members, who fully support the constitution, and are willing to volunteer themselves practically to help in the management and running of the charity. New committee members are guided as to their role and responsibilities by more long-standing committee members.
Risk management
The Management committee regularly assess the risks the charity faces and are satisfied that systems are in place, or arrangements are in hand, to manage the risks that have been identified. Insurance cover is in place, and the finances of the Masjid are kept under review.
Appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, supported by regularly reviewed policies, are made for those who work with children or other vulnerable groups within the charity. These systems and/or arrangements are periodically reviewed to ensure that they still meet the needs of the charity.
Use of volunteers
Volunteers are an important source in both our faith and community work. Volunteers are involved in most of our faith and community activities, and we have over 10 people regularly giving their time. AII our committee members also give of their time freely. We encourage aII members of our organisation to be involved in voluntary activities and to share their skills with others. AII those volunteers working with projects involving children or other vulnerable groups are DBS checked.
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 worship at Islami Darasgah and the wider community of Bristol.
Religious activities
Islami Darasgah provides a centre for our prayers and worship and for the activities associated with our faith. During the year under review, we offered a range of religious services and activities including:
Prayers: Hazrat Bilal Centre is open for the 5 times daily and Friday prayers. In normal times, during the week we have over 30 people who regularly attend daily prayers and over 200 who regularly attend Friday prayers.
Daily after school classes: Islami Darasgah provides after school classes for children to be schooled in Islamic Education including reading the Muslim Holy Book the Holy Quran. Students are taught the Islamic way of life so they can be Model Muslim citizens. The classes are run by the Imam Hafiz Muhammad Altaf and Hafiz Asim Khan Chisti alongside two part time teachers. There were approximately 60 children attending after school classes.
Islamic lectures: Islamic lectures are held on a daily and weekly basis to promote Islamic knowledge and awareness. Muslims are encouraged to attend these events. Special lectures are also organised throughout the year for the benefit of all people in the community.
Festivals : The two Eid festivals are our focal points of the year and facilities are provided for the Muslims of Bristol to celebrate Eid in an Islamic manner. We also participate in the annual peace march held to commemorate the Prophets Muhammads Birth date.
Islami Darasgah provides facilities during Ramadhan in Hazrat Bilal Centre for those who wish to break their fast together and join the night prayers called Taravee. We also commemorate important Islamic events including the Prophets Birth, Muharram, Night of Power on the 27th of Ramadan, the completion the Quran on the 29th of Ramadan and the night of 15th of Shabaan.
Nikkah (Islamic marriage) The Masjid provides Muslim couples with an appropriate location for their Nikkah (Islamic Marriage).
Hazrat Bilal Centre has participated in the "Visit my Mosque" day, organised by the Muslim Council of Britain. A day across the UK where Masjids invite the neighbourhood to Visit the Mosques open day.
Charitable giving:
The alleviation of poverty and suffering lies at the heart of Islam and therefore giving charity is greatly encouraged. Islami Darasgah provides an avenue from time to time, for registered charities to appeal to the Congregation to give to worthwhile causes.
Community activities
Islami Darasgah both facilitates and participates in several community activities and initiatives to help make our City peaceful, vibrant and harmonious. During the year under review, we offered a range of community activities including:
Open doors day: Visit my Mosque is an annual day when a wide variety of religious institutions and places of worship are opened to the public for viewing and to talk to those of that faith on an open, one-to-one basis, without barriers. We participated in Visit My Mosque event and kept our doors open on the Day for the public to walk into our place of worship and ask any question on our faith. This event promoted diversity and respect for each other’s faith and gave message of Unity and being proud to be part of diverse society.
Taste Ramadan day: Another national initiative which Hazrat Bilal Centre participated in whereby the wider community was invited to break a fast with us during Ramadhan. P articipating UK mosques open their doors to people of different faiths and none, to share their evening Iftar together. The Iftar is the meal eaten by Muslims at sunset following a day of abstaining from food and drink from dawn.
Partnership working
In developing our community programmes, we are pleased to work in partnership with NHS, Police, Bristol City Council, Government agencies, Government office of Southwest, Building the Bridge (Prevent). We are also active participants in Partnership Advisory Group (PAG) which is made up of Government office of Southwest, Muslim community, Police, Bristol City Council, and other agencies. We work with aII of these agencies in promoting harmony, unity and diversity across aII communities and are a key Muslim organisation in Bristol.
Financial review
2024 Review
Reserves Policy
The trustees have reviewed the reserves of the charity. Their policy is to hold enough funds to meet four months’ operating costs of the Masjid. After deducting the value of the previous Masjid building at 109 Lower Cheltenham Place, Imam’s accommodation at 43 Sevier Street and the Masjid building at 41 Sevier Street, the charity has free reserves of £17,965 which is equal to between three- or four-months expenditure during the year ended 31 December 2024.
Principal funding sources
The charity’s main source of income is giving. Giving at Friday prayers amounted to £28,036 (£25,936 - 2023). This demonstrates a slight increase in income from 2023 due to increased donations during the same period. Members of the masjid pay an annual subscription of £200. Subscriptions for the year were £8,339 (£11,496 - 2023). Class fee increased in 2024 and were £13,678 (£12,010 – 2023).
Investment policy and objectives
The charity has purchased a property next door (43 Sevier Street) to the Masjid for £301,867. This was purchased with the help of interest free loans (Karz e Hasna) from our members of £277,300. We are pleased to announce that all loans have been repaid, and the Masjid is debt free with the help of our very generous membership. The property at 109 Lower Cheltenham Place which was returned into a 2-bedroom house. Previous attempts at a sale of the property have been unsuccessful, and therefore the property has been let out during the financial year 2024 generating income of £17,617 (£17,370 – 2023).
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 situation 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 its business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that 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 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 :
SAJID MAHMOOD
Sajid Mahmood (Chair) 14 October 2025
| ISLAMI DARASGAH BRISTOL | ISLAMI DARASGAH BRISTOL | ISLAMI DARASGAH BRISTOL | ISLAMI DARASGAH BRISTOL | ISLAMI DARASGAH BRISTOL | ISLAMI DARASGAH BRISTOL | 260804 | 260804 | 260804 | CC16a | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts and payments accounts | |||||||||||||
| For the period from |
01-Jan-24 | To | 31-Dec-24 | ||||||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | |||||||||
| to the nearest £ |
to the nearest £ |
to the nearest £ |
to the nearest £ |
to the nearest £ |
|||||||||
| A1 Receipts | |||||||||||||
| Class Fees, Bag Sales, Book Sales |
13,723 | - | - | 13,723 | 12,023 | ||||||||
| General Donations including Donation Box |
60,946 | - | - | 60,946 | 81,248 | ||||||||
| Eid Namaz Collection / Grand Iftar |
3,441 | - | - | 3,441 | 4,475 | ||||||||
| Fitrana | 639 | - | - | 639 | 1,525 | ||||||||
| Hazrat Bilal Centre Fund | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Jummah Donations | 28,036 | - | - | 28,036 | 25,936 | ||||||||
| Marriage Registration Fees | 700 | - | - | 700 | 1,490 | ||||||||
| Rental Income | 17,617 | - | 17,617 | 17,370 | |||||||||
| Membership Subscriptions | 8,339 | - | - | 8,339 | 11,496 | ||||||||
| Sponsorship of Timetables | 350 | 350 | 200 | ||||||||||
| Collections for Appeals | 14,437 | 14,437 | 9,573 | ||||||||||
| Furlough Grants from HMRC | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
148,228 | - | **- ** | 148,228 | 165,336 | ||||||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||||||||||
| **- ** | **- ** | **- ** | - | ||||||||||
| **- ** | **- ** | **- ** | - | **- ** | |||||||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||
| Total receipts | 148,228 | - | - | 148,228 | 165,336 | ||||||||
| A3 Payments | |||||||||||||
| Imam Wages(1) | 26,278 | - | - | 26,278 | 28,740 | ||||||||
| Teaching Assistant / 2nd Jummah Imam Fees |
9,216 | - | - | 9,216 | 8,671 | ||||||||
| Tax/NI | 2,232 | - | - | 2,232 | 2,606 | ||||||||
| Superannuation | 1,512 | - | - | 1,512 | 1,010 | ||||||||
| Premises Expenditure | 33,632 | - | - | 33,632 | 8,717 | ||||||||
| Insurance | 2,111 | - | - | 2,111 | 1,903 | ||||||||
| Legal Fees | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Council Tax / Utilities | 5,069 | - | - | 5,069 | 6,415 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security | 0 | - | - | 0 | 800 | ||||
| Advertising /Printing / Stationary / Consumables / Bank Charges |
2,134 | - | - | 2,134 | 1,269 | ||||
| Programmes | 0 | - | - | 0 | 1,645 | ||||
| Fitrana | 639 | - | - | 639 | 1,525 | ||||
| Collections for Appeals | 14,437 | 14,437 | 9,573 | ||||||
| Sub total | 97,259 | - | - | 97,259 | 72,874 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||||||
| **- ** | **- ** | **- ** | - | ||||||
| **- ** | **- ** | **- ** | - | ||||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | **- ** | - | ||||
| Total payments | 97,259 | - | - | 97,259 | 72,874 | ||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) | 50,969 | **- ** | **- ** | 50,969 | 92,461 | ||||
| A5 Transfers between funds |
**- ** | - | - | - | - | ||||
| A6 Cash funds last year end |
268,863 | **- ** | **- ** | 268,863 | 176,402 | ||||
| Cash funds this year end | 319,832 | **- ** | **- ** | 319,832 | 268,863 | ||||
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |||||||||
| Categories | Details | Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
|||||
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ |
to nearest £ | |||||||
| B1 Cash funds | Cash in Hand | 0 | - | - | |||||
| Current Account | 245 | - | - | ||||||
| Lloyds Treasurer Account | 9,980 | ||||||||
| Hazrat Bilal Centre Bank Account | 7,740 | - | - | ||||||
| Total cash funds | 17,965 | - | - | ||||||
| (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
Agreement Error |
OK | OK | ||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
|||||||
| Details | to nearest £ | to nearest £ |
to nearest £ | ||||||
| B2 Other monetary assets | - | - | - | ||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) |
Current value (optional) |
||||||
| B3 Investment assets | 109 Lower Cheltenham Place | Restricted | - | - | |||||
| 43 Sevier Street | Restricted | - | - | ||||||
| - | - |
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities | at the end of the period | at the end of the period | at the end of the period | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | ||||||
| Categories | Details | funds | funds | funds | ||||
| to nearest £ | to nearest | to nearest £ | ||||||
| £ | ||||||||
| B1 Cash funds | Cash in Hand | 0 | ||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| Current Account | 245 | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| Lloyds Treasurer Account | 9,980 | |||||||
| Hazrat Bilal Centre Bank Account | 7,740 | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| Total cash funds | 17,965 | - | - | |||||
| (agree balances with receipts | Agreement | |||||||
| and payments account(s)) | Error | OK | OK | |||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | ||||||
| funds | funds | funds | ||||||
| to nearest £ | to nearest | to nearest £ | ||||||
| Details | £ | |||||||
| B2 Other monetary assets | ||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) |
Current value (optional) |
|||||
| B3 Investment assets | 109 Lower Cheltenham Place | Restricted | ||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| 43 Sevier Street | Restricted | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| - | - |
----- Start of picture text -----
Fund to Current
Cost
which asset value
Details belongs (optional) (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the
41 Sevier Street Restricted - -
charity’s own use
- -
Fund to Amount When due
which due (optional)
liability (optional)
Details relates
B5 Liabilities Unrestricted
Signed by one or two
Date of
trustees on behalf of all the Signature Print Name
approval
trustees
Sajid Mahmood Sajid Mahmood Sajid Mahmood 14/10/2025
----- End of picture text -----
Notes to the Accounts
-
The Imam Qari Mohammed Altaf Sahib was paid gross wages of £7,897 the other full time Imam Asim Malik Khan was paid £18,381.
-
The property at 43 Sevier Street next to the Masjid, is provided as accommodation for Imam Asim Malik Khan to enable him to carry out his duties effectively.
-
The Masjid allowed a few charities to collect donations from its congregation during 2024. These funds were deposited with the Masjid and then paid out to the respective charities.
-
During the year the Masjid replaced carpets on the Ground Floor, redecorated all interiors, cleared up the alley approaching the Masjid from York Street and installed a pathway and finally replaced the roof on 109 Lower Cheltenham Place.
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
| Independent examiner's report on the accounts |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | Independent Examiner’s Report | ||||||
| Report to the trustees/ members of |
Islami Darasgah Bristol | ||||||
| On accounts for the year ended |
31 December 2024 | Charity no (if any) |
260804 | ||||
| Set out on pages | 9 to 11 | ||||||
| Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner |
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: • examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, • to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and • to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. |
||||||
| Basis of independent examiner’s statement |
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. 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 seeking 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 no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. |
| Independent examiner's statement |
Independent examiner's statement |
Independent examiner's statement |
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention (other than that 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 130 of the Charities Act; and • to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or 1. to which, in my opinion, 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. |
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention (other than that 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 130 of the Charities Act; and • to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or 1. to which, in my opinion, 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. |
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention (other than that 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 130 of the Charities Act; and • to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or 1. to which, in my opinion, 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: | M Shakeel | Date: | 14/10/2025 | |||
| Name: | Mohammed Shakeel | |||||
| Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): |
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| Address: | 18 Ingmire Road | |||||
| Eastville, BRISTOL,BS5 6XD | ||||||