The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2025.
Shree Swaminarayan Agyna Upasna Satsang Mandal UK (hereafter referred to as "the Charity") is a charitable organization governed by its Trustees.
The Charity was registered on 21 December 2012 as Standard registration with the Charity Commission under Charity Number 1150267. It is also a Private Limited Company by Guarantee without share capital, using the 'Limited' exemption, incorporated on 2 July 2012 with Company Number 08125854.
Other names: Shree Laxminarayan Dev Gadi Vadtal-Aashirt Shree Swaminarayan Satsang Samaj U.K and SS-AUSM
The Charity supports a variety of causes, including General Charitable Purposes, Education and Training, Religious Activities, the Promotion of Human Rights, the Advancement of Religious or Racial Harmony, Equality and Diversity, as well as Recreational Activities.
The Charity operates from its premises located at Bridle Road, Pinner Green, Pinner, HA5 2SH.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 2 to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, 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 objectives of the charity are summarised as follows:
A) To promote and advance the Hindu faith in alignment with the teachings and principles of Lord Shree Swaminarayan, and to further the religious education of the public in these principles, as outlined in Satsangi Jivan, Lekh, Shikshapatri, and Vachhanamrut
B) To undertake such other charitable activities for the public benefit that are exclusively charitable under the laws of England and Wales, as determined by the Trustees from time to time.
The objectives are set to reflect and preserve our faith and to actively promote our faith within the community.
The main objectives for the year continued to be that of facilitating the spiritual well being of the congregation by ensuring that adequate administrative resources were available to observe all the regular festivals and cultural activities as well as to inspire people to give their time for the advancement of Hindu Religion and voluntary service.
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 guidance on the advancement of religion for the public benefit.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Charity should undertake.
The charity advances the Hindu religion and promotes moral, spiritual, and community welfare through public worship, educational events, and cultural programs. These activities are accessible to all and provide clear public benefit by fostering spiritual growth, social inclusion, and community engagement.
The volunteers and staff are involved in general management and core activities of the Charity.
The Board of Trustees would like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the volunteers, staff and the many supporters of the Charity for their kind and generous donations as well as their continued support in helping the Charity to achieve its objectives.
The Charity has successfully celebrated a number of major Hindu festivals, including Diwali, Janmashtami, Ram Navami, Shivaratri, and Navaratri, on a larger scale. Additionally, it has promoted a healthy lifestyle through Yoga classes, , promoted blood donation through NHS and carried out various activities aligned with its objectives.
During the year, the Charity undertook a review of the classification of certain liabilities and reserves to ensure that the financial statements accurately reflect the nature and intended use of its funds. As a result, certain balances were reclassified between long-term and short-term liabilities, between general and restricted reserves, and between creditors and income where appropriate. These adjustments have been applied retrospectively, with comparative figures restated accordingly. The adjustments resulted in a change to the total funds and net assets reported.
In 2025, the Charity generated total income of £814k (2024: £752k) from donations and Gift Aid. Total expenditure for the year amounted to £362k (2024: £209k). The Charity also received other income of £81k (2024: £68k).
Income exceeded resources expended in 2025, resulting in a surplus of £534k (2024: £612k). Net assets as at the year-end stood at £3.39m (2024: £2.86m), reflecting the positive financial performance and the impact of the retrospective adjustments.
The Charity’s general reserves brought forward were £2.83m, increasing to £3.35m at year-end. Restricted reserves carried forward increased from £32k to £47k.
The Charity’s funds are being actively utilised in the short term to support the running of Temple activities and to enhance its facilities, thereby advancing the Charity’s objectives and mission.
The Trustees are satisfied with the Charity’s financial position as at the year end.
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The trustees have assessed the charity’s financial position and confirm that there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Based on the charity’s historical support from donors and devotees, its current and expected financial performance, and the trustees’ confidence in its ability to meet ongoing obligations, they believe the charity will have sufficient resources to continue operating for at least 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements.
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 one and six month’s 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.
Reserves are also held to sustain operation when income generating activities are not feasible.
The Trustees have formally assessed business risks, and this has involved assessing the types of risk facing the Charity, prioritising them in terms of the potential impact and likelihood of occurrence, and identifying means of mitigating the risks. As part of this process the Trustees have assessed the adequacy of the Charity’s internal controls and the costs of operating particular controls relative to the benefits obtained.
A major risk identified is the charity's reliance on donations as a primary source of funding. To mitigate this risk, the Trustees are focused on diversifying funding streams, strengthening donor relationships and with wider community.
Risk management
The Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring effective risk management, and that internal controls are in place to appropriately manage the risk exposure of the Charity, in particular, the Board of Trustees has considered:
- the major risks to which the Charity is exposed;
- the potential impact and probability associated with each risk;
- existing internal controls and accountability for them; and
- mitigating actions needed to reduce each risk to a level that the Trustees considers to be acceptable.
All significant activities undertaken are subject to risk review as part of the initial project assessment and implementation. The Board of Trustees reviews the major risks that the Charity faces on a regular basis and controls are established as appropriate.
Internal control
The Trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the Charity has appropriate systems of internal controls across the Charity .
The key internal controls used by the Charity include:
- Formal agendas and minutes of all Board of Trustees meetings;
- Established organisational structure and lines of reporting; and
- Engagement of external professional advisors as and when necessary.
Through the controls established for the running of the Charity, the Board of Trustees are satisfied that the major risks identified are adequately mitigated where necessary. It is recognised that the controls established can only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance that major risks have been adequately managed.
The Charity is committed to strengthening its relationship with the community through various programs that benefit both devotees and the local population.
Our plans include expanding the temple to accommodate a larger number of devotees and to enhance the overall experience for all.
Our core objectives focus on advancing the Hindu faith and improving the well-being of the community.
This includes maintaining a Temple for worship and ceremonies, organizing congregational activities, celebrating Hindu festivals, and providing education on the Hindu faith to younger generations.
Furthermore, we aim to promote Hindu culture within the broader community, offer recreational and social activities, and provide support to the elderly and those in need.
The Trustees conduct an annual review of the Charity’s activities to ensure they align with our mission and adhere to public benefit guidelines, ensuring continued progress in line with the principles of the Hindu faith.
The charity is focused on strengthening its relationship with the community through a variety of programs that benefit both devotees and the local population. Plans include expanding the temple to accommodate more devotees and improve the overall experience.
The Charity is constituted as a registered Charity and a Company limited by Guarantee and has no Share Capital, with the Charity Trustees being the Directors of the Company. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £10.
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:
Governance and Management
The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees, currently comprising five members. They are responsible for overseeing the charity’s activities and ensuring alignment with its objectives and legal requirements.
Trustees are appointed by H.H. Acharya Maharaj Shree (currently H.H. 1008 Shree Acharya Maharaj Shree Ajendraprasadji Narendraprasadji Maharaj) from among the registered members. The number of trustees must be no fewer than three and no more than seven.
Induction of New Trustees
New trustees undergo an induction program designed to familiarise them with their roles and responsibilities. This includes:
An overview of the charity's objectives, policies, and operational scope
Information from the Charity Commission regarding trustee duties
A copy of the charity’s Constitution
Ongoing training is provided to ensure trustees stay informed about relevant regulatory updates.
Organisational Structure and Decision-Making
The trustees meet regularly to make key decisions. Day-to-day matters and ad-hoc decisions may be handled by trustees holding executive roles. Major decisions—particularly those involving finance or staffing—are made collectively by the Board.
Appointed trustees also oversee the daily operations of the Temple.
The charity operates under a governing document that outlines its objectives, governance, and operational procedures. This document is available on the Charity Commission's website. Charity Commission.
The charity is managed by a board of five trustees who are responsible for overseeing the charity's activities and ensuring compliance with its objectives and legal obligations.
Key Management and Operational Roles:
President: Leads the organisation and represents it in external matters.
Secretary: Handles administrative duties, including communication and record-keeping.
Treasurer: Manages the charity's finances, including budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting.
Assistant Treasurer: Assists the Treasurer in financial matters and may act in their absence.
The charity's financial activities are overseen by the trustees. The latest financial statements are available on the Charity Commission's website.
Organisational structure and Decision making
Decision making duties are carried out by the Trustees at their regular meeting. Other ad-hoc decisions are taken by the Trustees with executive positions.
All major decisions that have financial or staffing implications are made by the Board of Trustees. Salaries and other running costs are agreed during various meetings.
All Trustees are working as Voluntary and no remuneration is paid to any of the Trustees.
Transactions with the Trustees during the year have been disclosed in Note 19 to the financial statements. These disclosures include details of any remuneration, expenses reimbursed, or other transactions involving Trustees or parties closely connected to them.
The Trustees confirm that all such transactions were conducted in accordance with the charity’s governing document and conflict of interest policy, and were in the best interest of the charity.
The Trustees, who are also the directors of Shree Swaminarayan Agyna Upasna Satsang Mandal UK for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these 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 (Statement of Recommended Practice);
Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charitable will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, and the provisions of the charity’s constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the charity complies with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 with regard to the preparation of an annual report and accounts.
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that KLSA LLP be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Shree Swaminarayan Agyna Upasna Satsang Mandal UK (the ‘Charity’) for the year ended 31 July 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this statement is not a guarantee as to the company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the Trustees report; or
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
As explained more fully in the statement of Trustees responsibilities, the Trustees, who are also the directors of the Charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations
the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the charitable company through discussions with trustees and other management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the sector; and
we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the operations of the charitable company financial statements or the operations of the charitable company, including the Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011, data protection, anti-bribery, employment, environmental and health and safety legislation.
We assessed the susceptibility of the charitable company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates set out in note 2 were indicative of potential bias; and
investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
To address the risk of non-compliance with laws and regulations, we communicated relevant legal and regulatory requirements to all members of the audit team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. The potential impact of such laws and regulations on the financial statements may vary significantly.
Firstly, the charitable company is subject to laws and regulations that directly affect the preparation of the financial statements, including financial reporting legislation (such as the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, and the Charities SORP) as well as taxation legislation (including payroll taxes). We assessed compliance with these requirements as part of our audit procedures relating to the associated financial statement items.
Secondly, the charitable company is subject to other legal and regulatory requirements, where non-compliance may not directly impact the financial statements but could nevertheless result in material consequences. In particular, we identified compliance with Charity Commission regulations and health and safety legislation as areas of audit relevance. However, auditing standards limit the required procedures in these areas to making inquiries of the Trustees and senior management and reviewing regulatory or legal correspondence, if any. Therefore, where a breach of such regulations is not disclosed to us or apparent from available documentation, our audit would not be expected to detect that breach.
We communicated identified risks of material misstatement due to fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations to those charged with governance and throughout our audit team. We remained alert to any indications of such risks throughout the audit.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. Furthermore, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment, collusion, forgery, or intentional misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, the Charities Act 2011, and Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might report to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
KLSA LLP is eligible for appointment as auditor of the Charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Shree Swaminarayan Agyna Upasna Satsang Mandal UK is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, Bridle Road, Pinner, HA5 2SH.
The principal activity of Shree Swaminarayan Agyna Upsana Satsang Mandal UK is the promotion and practice of the Swaminarayan faith, including the religious, spiritual, and social welfare of its community. This involves providing a place for worship, religious services, educational programs, and cultural activities that foster moral and ethical values based on the teachings of Lord Swaminarayan. The Mandal also organizes charitable activities, religious festivals, and outreach initiatives to serve the local and wider communities in the UK.
The charity’s aims are to support the spiritual growth of its members and to promote the values of peace, harmony, and unity, as well as to contribute to the betterment of society in line with the teachings of Lord Swaminarayan.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charity’s governing document, the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, and in compliance with FRS 102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland. They also follow the Charities SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102. The Charity is classified as a Public Benefit Entity under FRS 102.
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 accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial instruments to fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted, which have been applied consistently in the current and preceding years, are set out below.
The charity is able to fund its operational costs and meet its liabilities through the utilisation of existing cash resources, alongside continued support from voluntary donations. The charity is therefore dependent on ongoing financial support from donors to sustain its activities.
As at 31 July 2025, the charity reported a net surplus of £534k (2024: £612k). Total assets less liabilities stood at £3.39m (2024: £2.86m), reflecting a continued strengthening of the charity's financial position.
At the time of approving these financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, 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 or grantors 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.
Donations are recognised as income when the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt.
Other donations, including bank transfers or pledged amounts, are recognised when the charity is formally notified and there is sufficient certainty regarding entitlement and receipt, unless performance-related conditions exist, in which case recognition is deferred until those conditions are met.
Gift Aid income is recognised on an accrual basis, at the same time as the associated donation, provided a valid Gift Aid declaration is held and it is probable that the amounts will be received.
At the reporting date, any Gift Aid recoverable but not yet received is recognised as a debtor within current assets, measured at the amount expected to be recovered from HMRC.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, 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 classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost. Cost includes any costs directly attributable to bringing the asset into working condition for its intended use.
Subsequently, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost or valuation, less depreciation and any impairment losses.
Freehold land is not depreciated, as it is considered to have an indefinite useful life.
The temple building is not depreciated as it is deemed to have an indefinite useful life, reflecting its religious and cultural significance and the trustees’ commitment to its ongoing preservation through regular maintenance. The trustees consider the building’s residual value to be not materially less than its carrying amount. Accordingly, the asset is not depreciated but is subject to periodic impairment review in line with the applicable financial reporting framework.
The building’s carrying value is reviewed annually for any signs of impairment (e.g., physical damage, decline in value).
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 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 charity is an exempt charity as defined in Schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and meets the criteria set out in Paragraph 1, Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010. Consequently, the charity is considered a charitable company for the purposes of UK corporation tax.
As an exempt charity, the charity is not subject to corporation tax on its charitable activities, provided these activities are undertaken in furtherance of its charitable objectives. Any non-charitable trading activities will be subject to taxation as applicable, in line with current tax regulations.
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.
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.
The management regularly reviews the useful lives and residual values of tangible fixed assets to ensure that they remain appropriate. During the financial year, the directors determined that there were no significant changes in the useful lives and residual values of the charity’s tangible assets.
Freehold land and the temple building are considered to have indefinite useful lives. The temple building is not depreciated, as it is recognised for its religious significance, and the charity has an ongoing maintenance program that preserves its condition. As a result, the temple building is not subject to depreciation, in line with its indefinite useful life.
Other tangible assets are depreciated over their estimated useful lives, with annual reviews to ensure the values remain accurate.
The Temple has received non-interest bearing cash advances of £92,166 from the Trustee to support its ongoing operational needs. These advances are repayable on demand and are therefore classified as current liabilities.
During the year ended 31 July 2025, a payment of £66k (2024: £56k) was made to the Trustee as repayment of the outstanding advance. Of this repaid amount, £36k (2024: £56k) was donated back to the Temple by the Trustees. The outstanding balance as at 31 July 2025 was £92k (2024: £158k).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The company’s long-term borrowing is secured by a fixed charge registered on 21 September 2018 in favour of HSBC UK Bank PLC. The charge is secured against the freehold property known as Eastcote Reformed Church, Pinner, Middlesex, registered at HM Land Registry under title number MX64700.
This fixed charge grants the lender a legal interest in the property, thereby restricting the company’s ability to dispose of, lease, or otherwise encumber the asset without prior written consent from the lender.
In addition, the loan agreement includes a negative pledge clause, which contractually prohibits the company from creating any further security interests over the charged property. This clause ensures that the lender’s secured position remains protected and is not subordinated or diluted by subsequent encumbrances.
Other Creditors include cash advances at no interest amounting to £463,947 (2024 £635,045).
The Temple receives non-interest bearing cash advances from supporters to support its ongoing operational activities. These advances are repayable on demand and are therefore classified as current liabilities.
Supporters have the option to convert these advances into donations. Such conversions are recognized as voluntary income in the Statement of Financial Activities in the period when the supporter provides explicit consent to donate the outstanding balance.
The company’s long-term loan is secured by a fixed charge over the freehold property. Further details regarding the security arrangements, including the nature of the charge and the property involved, are provided in Note 12.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
This is a restricted fund, comprising donations made by devotees and designated exclusively for the Head Priest, Ajendraprasadji N. Pande. The fund balance as at 2025 was £38,978 (2024: £24,843), with donations received during the year amounting to £14,135 (2024: £5,912).
Also included within restricted funds are donations received for Shree Ram Mandir, with a balance of £5,445 (2024: £5,445), and for the SVG Charity, with a balance of £2,143 (2024: £2,143).
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
The Temple has received non-interest-bearing cash advances from Trustees to support its operational needs. These advances are repayable on demand and are classified as current liabilities. The outstanding balance as at 31 July 2025 was £92,166 (2024: £158,166).
During the year, £66,000 was repaid to a lender, out of which £36,000 was fully donated back to the Temple. Additionally, the Trustee donated a further £24,245 (2024: £2,400). Trustees were also reimbursed £391 (2024: £5,550) for expenses paid on behalf of the Temple.