Preston Muslim Forum Limited - Charities report - 22.2

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 03054937 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1064609

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

for

PRESTON MUSLIM FORUM LIMITED

Page

Chairman's Report

1

Report of the Trustees

2

to

5

Independent Examiner's Report

6

Statement of Financial Activities

7

Balance Sheet

8

to

9

Notes to the Financial Statements

10

to

20

This report deals with the year up to 31st March 2023.

We are a charity and we work for the benefit of BME communities in Preston. We exist to provide resources and facilities to meet the needs of those who are vulnerable and at the margins of society. I am delighted to be reviewing another very successful year for the charity. The extended and refurbished centre is now a thriving 'Hub' and the organisation is growing in terms of both income and service provision. Details of the types of activities and services provided are detailed later in the report.

Meetings of Charity's core management team have become smaller, following the resignation of one of the Trustees and also with great sadness, the recent passing of Mr Ibrahim Member, he will be a great loss to PMF, he was a stalwart who served on PMF's management board for over 20 years. We owe him an enormous debt of gratitude and my sincere condolences to his family, he will be greatly missed by PMF and the community at large, may Allah elevate his status. We will actively seek to recruit new Trustees to add to the management team in the coming year.

The board of Trustees acknowledge the achievements made throughout what has been a very challenging year of service provision. The board of Trustees have overseen the ongoing performance of all services, ensuring that they are maintained and delivered to a high standard. Through this period of considerable change as a result of very challenging circumstances the Trustees are fully satisfied by the quality of service and outcomes for service users. The charity is in a position to continue to deliver its activities during the coming year but seriously recognises the need for a further and more significant programme of change that will have to be developed and implemented to ensure the short to medium term sustainability of the organisation following the ever-increasing challenges of the on-going economic climate as one of our priorities.

As government cuts affect local services PMF is being called upon to support increasing numbers of people from a variety of cultures and as such, valuing the backgrounds, experiences and strengths of staff, volunteers and beneficiaries is integral to delivering high-quality services and projects.

I wish to express my thanks to our staff and to all the volunteers for the hard work they have put in, especially to emerge from the pandemic with a revitalised programme of activities.

I would also like to thank my fellow Trustees for their dedication and conscientiousness in carrying out their duties.

Finally, I would like to thank all the partners and stakeholders and of course our funders for their continuing support and look forward to working with them in the future.

Name: Ismail S. Rawat, Chair

Date:

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

- Provide one to one information, advice and guidance including practical support to clients who have nowhere to turn.

- Develop employability and life skills of people facing disadvantage, through targeted employment, lifelong learning support and volunteering opportunities.

- Engage with young people to help with their personal, social, physical and spiritual development.

- Support older people to promote their wellbeing and independence.

- Work in partnership with others organisations to achieve common goals including developing potential of other community groups through provision of capacity building support.

- Foster understanding and co-operation between communities through multi-faith and cohesion events and initiatives.

- Act as community advocate by supporting agencies in shaping policies and practice.

- Improve the physical and mental well-being of community

- Work to achieve long-term sustainability

Our Services And Activities

To further its aims, PMF provides the following services and activities:

- Drop-in service for members of the community acting as first port of call for those who have nowhere to turn;

- Advice, guidance and information on a wide range of social, money, immigration, welfare benefit, employment support and health and well-being issues;

- Practical support on the above mentioned issues in a social and culturally sensitive, gender appropriate and multi-lingual environment;

- Variety of training and non-vocational courses e.g. ESOL, IT for beginners etc.;

- Social, leisure and recreational activities to promote Health and Well-Being such as luncheon club, coffee mornings, keep fit classes, health awareness, managing long-term conditions etc.;

- Organise or take part in events such as 'community celebration days', multi-faith events;

- Provide volunteering opportunities;

- Advocate and work in partnership with other voluntary and statutory organisations;

- Hire out the venue to the community.

Charitable activities

To achieve the objectives specified above, the charity provides a community centre and drop-in facility for members of the local community, where it offers wide-ranging services and activities, delivered by suitably qualified staff and volunteers in a culturally sensitive and bi-lingual environment, to meet the needs of the community, especially the vulnerable.

Information, Advice and Guidance

- 863 one-to-one advice sessions including practical support, either through 'drop-in' or appointment basis

- 596 beneficiaries supported on a wide range of issues such as welfare benefits, housing, money matters, immigration, schooling, council tax, etc

- 14 beneficiaries/families received advocacy service

- 108 beneficiaries gained £418,662 in additional benefit entitlements

Employment Support

- 57 beneficiaries assisted with job searches, job applications, preparing CV's, interviews and so on.

- 12 participants received intensive support as they faced significant barriers and are far removed from the labour market

- 8 beneficiaries secured employment

Community Learning

- Delivered various courses over 44 weeks

- 21 people completed ESOL Level 1

- 10 people completed confidence building course

- 7 people completed CSOL computing course

- 10 people completed Employability course

Health & Well-Being

- 48 coffee morning sessions were held attended on average by 18 women

- 6 Arts and crafts sessions attended by 8 women

- 4 Potting and planting sessions attended by 20 women

- 22 health awareness workshops were held attended on average by 12 men and 18 women, these sessions included; Managing Long-term Conditions, Arthritis and Fibromyalgia, Eye Health, Diabetes, Chair Exercise

- 68 Fitness classes delivered average attendance 10 women per session

- 2 outings were organised

- Open Community event attended by at least 500 residents

BBO Changing Futures

This is a consortia project managed by lead agency Selnet. We continue to deliver the above project which provides intensive support to those individuals facing significant barriers and are far removed from the labour market. Since commencement we have engaged with 53 beneficiaries on the project with 8 securing employment, 28 moving on to job search and 17 moving into education or training. The project came to an end in March 2023.

Digital Partner

We are an approved Centre for 'We Are Digital' providing digital assistance to our EU

citizens and their family members with EU Settlement Scheme application process to obtain

the status they need to continue to live and work in the UK after UK leaving the EU. Although the scheme has now ended we continue to receive enquiries and assist people.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Principal funding sources

The charity's principal funding is derived through grants, contracts and income generation.

Property

The charity operates from a property which is leased from Preston City Council until 2037. The property was extended by the charity to provide improved premises. The original property was a single storey building. The charity received a capital grant of £385,000 during the year ended 31st March 2020 to add an extra floor onto the building.

The reserves include the capital amount of this project and this is being depreciated over its useful life at 10% on a reducing balance basis.

Reserves policy

Total reserves as at 31 March 2023 were £448,520. This comprises of Restricted Reserves of £444,972 and Unrestricted Reserves of £3,548.

Restricted reserves are in-year grants received which must to be spent for the purposes they are received from funders within the specified period.

The reserves policy of the Trustees is to ensure the organisation commits unrestricted (free) reserves towards furthering the objects of the charity whilst retaining sufficient amount to cover designated funds and ensure there is at least six months of funds set aside to cover organisational expenditure in the event there is little or no income forthcoming.

As the organisation continues its growth and deliver a greater number of projects and the revenue increases, the Trustees will continue to review funds set aside in reserve to meet increasing operational costs.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

- Consolidate delivery of current services, activities and projects

- Further develop services to meet gaps such as youth provision, mental health, etc

- Build organisational strength through succession planning, recruit new trustees, Leadership training, develop strategic and business plans

- Improve marketing via digital presence

- To develop an effective fundraising strategy to increase the level of income into the organisation. Identify and access new and additional funding streams

- To further develop internal systems, processes, organisational policies and procedures that meet organisational and statutory requirements.

- To continue and further develop strategies to support staff

- To recruit two new Trustees with secretariat, legal and or client lived experience

- To hold workshops on topics such as risk management, customer feedback and business planning, Leadership etc.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Risk management

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular, to the operations and finances and are satisfied that the systems and procedures are in place to mitigate our exposure against major risks. These major risks are the impact of short-term funding, changes in funding streams, changes to key personnel and changes to local and central government policies.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

03054937 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1064609

Registered office

Hamara Centre

Rear of 158 Castleton Road

Preston

PR1 6QH

Trustees

I S Rawat

I Member (resigned 1/6/22)

I Daoud

A Faruki (resigned 29/6/23)

S Ismail

M A Horton (appointed 16/5/23)

Mrs M Y Ahmed (appointed 16/5/23)

Independent Examiner

SKM Chartered Accountants

Pegasus House

5 Winckley Court

Mount Street

Preston

Lancashire

PR1 8BU

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 8 November 2023 and signed on its behalf by:

I S Rawat - Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Preston Muslim Forum Limited ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

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

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company 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 your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

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:

1.	accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2.	the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3.	the accounts 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

4.

the accounts 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 accounts to be reached.

Mrs Shamim Mahomed

SKM Chartered Accountants

Pegasus House

5 Winckley Court

Mount Street

Preston

Lancashire

PR1 8BU

8 November 2023

2023

2022

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

funds

funds

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

2

8,616

82,761

91,377

91,109

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

3

Management and Administration

723

6,959

7,682

9,491

Provision of Services

7,753

93,232

100,985

99,696

Support Costs

427

2,185

2,612

2,090

Total

8,903

102,376

111,279

111,277

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(287

)

(19,615

)

(19,902

)

(20,168

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

3,833

464,589

468,422

488,590

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

3,546

444,974

448,520

468,422

2023

2022

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

funds

funds

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

FIXED ASSETS

Tangible assets

9

54

294,412

294,466

325,515

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

10

(1,036

)

1,036

-

1,416

Cash at bank and in hand

4,833

150,023

154,856

142,209

3,797

151,059

154,856

143,625

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

11

(303

)

(499

)

(802

)

(718

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

3,494

150,560

154,054

142,907

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

3,548

444,972

448,520

468,422

NET ASSETS

3,548

444,972

448,520

468,422

FUNDS

12

Unrestricted funds

3,548

3,833

Restricted funds

444,972

464,589

TOTAL FUNDS

448,520

468,422

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a)	ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b)

preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

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

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 8 November 2023 and were signed on its behalf by:

I S Rawat - Trustee

1.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Plant and machinery

-

25% on reducing balance

Fixtures and fittings

-

20% on reducing balance

Computer Equipment - 33% Reducing balance

Improvements to Leasehold Property - 10% Reducing balance

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

2.	DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

2023

2022

£

£

Donations and Gifts

1

-

Grants

91,376

91,109

91,377

91,109

Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:

2023

2022

£

£

Preston City Council - Positive Minds

9,864

3,520

Community Development Fund

-

4,940

Big Lottery Fund

46,420

46,421

Selnet

10,536

12,581

Co-Op Foundation

-

1,045

LBMN - Micro

-

2,000

Lancashire care

-

500

Islamic Relief

12,149

-

Versus Arthritis

3,790

-

Other grants

8,617

20,102

91,376

91,109

3.	CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS

Provision of Services

Support Costs

Management & Administration

Total

Total

2023

2022

£

£

£

£

£

Wages & Social Security

56,896

56,896

52,099

Pension

1,039

1,039

Rates and Water

865

865

647

Insurance

2,412

2,412

2,034

Light and Heat

1,934

1,934

1,711

Telephone

2,089

2,089

1,730

Postage and Stationery

1,392

1,392

1,666

Advertising

Sundries

2,045

Repairs and Renewals

4,149

4,149

3,981

Accountancy

1,260

1,260

1,470

Event Costs

1,324

1,324

1,951

Rent and Insurance

1,500

1,500

1,500

Legal & Prof

4,449

4,449

200

Plant & Machinery - Dep'n

52

17

69

92

Fixtures and Fittings - Dep'n

68

23

91

114

Computer Equipment - Dep'n

36

12

48

72

Impvmt Leasehold Prop - Dep'n

30,842

30,842

36,071

Bank Charges

200

200

56

Training

720

720

3,840

100,985

2,612

7,682

111,279

111,277

4.	SUPPORT COSTS

Governance

costs

£

Provision of Services

1,260

5.	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

2023

2022

£

£

Depreciation - owned assets

31,049

36,349

6.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2023 nor for the year ended 31 March 2022.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2023 nor for the year ended 31 March 2022.

7.	STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

2023

2022

Average number of employees

4

4

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

8.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

funds

funds

funds

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

10,101

81,008

91,109

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

Management and Administration

2,867

6,624

9,491

Provision of Services

8,350

91,346

99,696

Support Costs

282

1,808

2,090

Total

11,499

99,778

111,277

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(1,398

)

(18,770

)

(20,168

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

5,233

483,357

488,590

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

3,835

464,587

468,422

9.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Improvements

to

Fixtures

Leasehold

Plant and

and

Computer

Prop

machinery

fittings

equipment

Totals

£

£

£

£

£

COST

At 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023

400,790

4,878

4,245

2,644

412,557

DEPRECIATION

At 1 April 2022

76,150

4,603

3,790

2,499

87,042

Charge for year

30,841

69

91

48

31,049

At 31 March 2023

106,991

4,672

3,881

2,547

118,091

NET BOOK VALUE

At 31 March 2023

293,799

206

364

97

294,466

At 31 March 2022

324,640

275

455

145

325,515

10.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2023

2022

£

£

Prepayments

-

1,416

11.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2023

2022

£

£

Trade creditors

(2

)

(2

)

Other creditors

204

-

Accrued expenses

600

720

802

718

12.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

movement

At

At 1/4/22

in funds

31/3/23

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

3,833

(285

)

3,548

Restricted funds

Restricted

2,168

-

2,168

Big Lottery Fund

88

(29

)

59

Preston City Council

24,216

1,349

25,565

Community Development Fund

1,071

-

1,071

Environmental Fund

16,891

(146

)

16,745

DWP

22

(7

)

15

Selnet

7,689

1,454

9,143

National Lottery - Capital Project

324,760

(30,841

)

293,919

Community Champions Project

25,540

-

25,540

Co Op Foundation

10,227

-

10,227

Independent Age

11,840

-

11,840

LCF Covid

14,755

-

14,755

Active Lancashire

780

-

780

Lancashire Environmental Fund - Capital

22,500

-

22,500

LCVS - Skelhorn - Capital

1,500

-

1,500

LBMN - Micro

434

-

434

Lancashire Care

108

-

108

Islamic Relief

-

1,676

1,676

Versus Arthritis

-

523

523

National Lottery - Revenue Project

-

6,404

6,404

464,589

(19,617

)

444,972

TOTAL FUNDS

468,422

(19,902

)

448,520