BRITISH_SOCIETY_FOR_MIDDL - Accounts

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's memorandum and articles, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016)

The charity's objectives are to encourage and promote the study in the United Kingdom of the Middle Eastern cultural region from the end of classical antiquity through the dissemination of information and by the encouragement of co-operation amongst persons and organisations concerned with the scholarly study of the region.

Membership is open to other individuals or organisations who are professionally and/or personally concerned with the Middle East and North Africa region.

The charitable company was incorporated on 24 October 2013 and commenced trading on 1st July 2021 when the funds held by the former unincorporated charity were transferred to the charitable company.

This year, BRISMES will continue with its core activities, namely:

• The production of the well-established British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies;

• The production of the monthly e-newsletter for members;

• Hosting the BRISMES annual lecture;

• Hosting the BRISMES annual conference;

• Hosting other events relevant to the charitable aims of BRISMES including those organised by the Graduate Section and the Outreach and Pedagogy Subcommittee;

• Advocating on behalf of members on issues that are relevant to the Society’s charitable objectives through the Committee on Academic Freedom;

• Continued development of the Graduate Section including a mentorship programme;

• Continued development of the website including the online MENA events calendar, Opportunities page and Database of Expertise;

• Outreach through social media platforms;

• Continuing the annual awards as detailed below.

BRISMES recognises and supports outstanding research and contributions to the field of Middle East Studies through a number of awards. The BRISMES Award for Services to Middle Eastern Studies is an honorary award presented annually in recognition of outstanding services to Middle Eastern Studies.

As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting students and Early Career Researchers, in 2021 we established the BRISMES Conference Student Paper Prize, which supports BRISMES student members in the development of peer-reviewed work, and the BRISMES Early Career Development Scholarship, which provides funds to support activities that strengthen the academic profile and CV of an early career scholar.

BRISMES also co-funds and administers the Leigh Douglas Memorial Prize established in 1986 by the Leigh Douglas Memorial Fund in memory of Dr Leigh Douglas, who was killed in Beirut. The prize is awarded annually to the writer of the best PhD dissertation on a Middle Eastern topic in the Social Sciences or Humanities awarded by a British University in the previous calendar year.

BRISMES advocates on behalf of members on issues relevant to the Society’s charitable aims. Most of the advocacy work is carried out through statements and letters from the BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom. In 2022, the BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom intervened in 14 cases involving violations of academic freedom in the UK and abroad.

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six months' expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised.

This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.

A solidarity fund was established in 2020 to fundraise for bursaries for students, those on low incomes and those from the Global South to attend the annual conference. In 2022, this fund was used to subsidise costs of attending the annual conference for colleagues experiencing financial hardship.

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. The trustees are monitoring the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for the Society's activities and members.

BRISMES was founded in 1973 and was registered with the Charity Commission under charity number 289804. On 30 June 2021, BRISMES members resolved to change to the organisational structure of the Society from an unincorporated charity to a charitable company limited by guarantee under charity number 1161206 and company number 08747770. The charity is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £0.01 in the event of a winding up.

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:

The charity's trustees are elected by the members in line with the Articles of Association. The Society has two part-time paid members of staff, both of whom work from home. The Society's registered address is 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ. The Society's Officers and Council Members (trustees) all work in an unpaid capacity. They may however, if they wish, claim allowable expenses as per our published policy.

The Society is run by an Executive Committee of four officers and a council of not more than 16 members, of whom no more than 5 shall be co-opted. The work of implementing most of the policies is carried out by the Executive Committee. The Society has four officers (President, Secretary, Vice-President and Treasurer). With the exception of the President, each has a three-year term in office. Each post will normally come up for election in successive years so that the terms in office of the Vice-President and Secretary do not terminate in the same year.

The Council holds at least two meetings and one annual general meeting each year. The Society's accounts are verified according to Charity Commission rules. These are presented to the AGM. The trustees of the Charity are legally responsible for the overall management and control of BRISMES. BRISMES is the main area studies association in the United Kingdom for Middle Eastern Studies. The Society's international links make BRISMES the foremost channel through which scholars outside the UK may create co-operative links with UK based researchers. Links between BRISMES and Middle Eastern studies associations elsewhere in the world are continually being expanded as is the society's international membership.

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2022.

As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).

Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for 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).

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 financial statements to be reached.

Azets

Bede House

Belmont Busines park

Durham

DH1 1TW

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 December 2022.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

British Society for Middle Eastern Studies is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 71 Shelton Street, London, WC2H 9JQ, United Kingdom.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the charity's memorandum and articles, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and that the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Intangible assets acquired separately from a business are recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.

Intangible assets acquired on business combinations are recognised separately from goodwill at the acquisition date where it is probable that the expected future economic benefits that are attributable to the asset will flow to the entity and the fair value of the asset can be measured reliably; the intangible asset arises from contractual or other legal rights; and the intangible asset is separable from the entity.

Amortisation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds

Printing, postage and stationery

Editorial costs

Website costs

Sundry expenses

Legal and professional fees

Bookkeeping fees

Accountancy and independent examination fees

Travel expenses

Conference expenses

Bank charges

Prizes and marketing

Insurance

During the year honoraria totalling £3,500 was paid to two trustees.

During the year expenses were reimbursed to ten trustees for the combined sum of £3,049.

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxationof Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

Aside for the amounts paid to trustess detailed in note 6 of the accounts there were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2021 - none).