Charfty reglstratlon number 1006263 BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SLAVONIC AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SLAVONIC AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION T￿￿te Prof. Matihias Neumann Dr Zoe Knox Dr Jan Gryta Dr Olena Palko Dr Victoria Hudson Prof Katharine HcKlgson (Arpointed 1 April 2023) (Appa"nted 1 April 2023) Charlty number 1006263 Prfnclpal address Director of Employabilty SdK)ol of History Universrty of East Anglia NOr￿1¢h Research Park Norwich NR4 ￿J Independént examln L￿&CO Pool House, AThan Close 106 8imiingham Road Great Barr Binningham B43 7AD BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SLAVONIC AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES CONTENTS Page Report Ind?pendent examlnerfs report Statement of financlal actlvitles Balance sheet Notes to the finandal statements 8-12 BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SLAVONIC AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 The trustees present their annual report arKI ffinartial Stat￿Ments for the year ended 31 De￿rnber 2023. The accounts have been prepared in acc(￿dan￿ *ith the accounting poliries set (xrt in note 1 to tre accounts and comply with the charitYs Constitution, the Charities Ad 2011 and the Statement of ReComm￿ded Praclice, "Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. (FRS102) effeclive 1 January 2019. Objectives and acllvities The charity's objects are to advance education ft)r the public benefft in the United Kingdom in the humanities and in the social sciences as they relate to the fonner Soviet Union and the countries of Eastem Europe. The executive committee devotes muth of its time to overseeir¥J the regular adivities of BASEES. ThwJe include organising the annLAI conferen￿. supporting BASEES study groups: providing small grants through our Research & Development Committee to support the research of postgraduate Memb￿5, arNI lo help others organise small conferences: and providing news and infomiatr'on to members through our website. the rewsletter and our new BASEES e-mail list Members of BASEES thmmitteé attend Me￿Ing$ (Kganised by the Research COU￿11$. by the Academy of Social Sciences, the British Academy. and by otrRr national professional and govemmental organisations at which they rep￿sent the views of their members. lobby on behalf of them and report back to them on developments taking place at a national level. We also take up particular issues that our members raise with us and pursue them with their institutions, or wth the relevant govemment or national body as appropriate. We are an offiaally recognised nominating organisation for the Academy of So(ial Sciences and for the HEFCE Research Excellen￿ Framework and carry out our duties in this capacity as and vthen required. We are sometimes called upon to represent the Interests of British scholars when they encounter problems or issues relating to their research witrnn the countries which our organisation considers as beirwJ ¥￿thin its remiL This will involve making representations to consulate. the embassy or other national govemmenl offices of the (￿nty C￿cerned. 8ASEES trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefft. Public beneft The trustees have paid due regard lo guidarr£ issued by the Charity c￿￿MiSsion in deciding what activities the chan'ty should undertake. BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SLAVONIC AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Achiavements and performance Signif￿an¢ activifies and achievements against objectives BASEES activities in 2023 gained momentum across the year to eventually surpass pr&pandemic levels. The Trustees are delighted at the increase in the volume of research activities and scholarly pursuits Ihat the charity supports. An increase in the number of members has enabled BASEES to allocate additional funds to support its objectives. The principal activities of the association during 2023 included the following: Holding the annual conferen￿, which took place at the University of Glasgow from 31 March to 2 April 2023. It was a huge success as researchers and students from across the UK and around the world gathered together. The option of presenting remotely allowed scholars abroad without funds to travel to present their research to new audiences. Continuing to condemn Russian aggression and offering support for Ukrainian colleagues and others in the region targeted for opposing the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Introducing a number of inttiatives to support Ukrainian researchers. most notably a non-residential fellowship scheme for scholars in the humanities and social sciences based in Ukraine. Eight fellowships were awarded to support their intellectual activities. In addition to receiving stipends, the reciptents were given BASEES membership and invited to showcase their research in various forums, including a dedicated seminar series. Supporting PhD students and Early Career Researchers {ECRs) by holding online events to guide them with research projects. This remains particularfy important given the challenges of conducting research on the region and the need to rethink established approaches. Rewarding and encouraging scholarship in the area through a range of prizes, including the Alexander Nove Prize, George Blazyca Prize, Women's Forum prizes, and the Postgraduate Prizes. Supporting the BASEES Women's Forum in its efforts to recognise and reward scholarship on women and gender and encourage and support women in the field. Continuing support for a wide range of research projects through Research and Development funding. This included funding or part-funding research events (such as conference attendancè) and activities (such as fieldwork and archival trlps) and was particularfy focused on supporting postgraduate research. Maintaining input into and membership of a number of learned societies, among them the Intemational Council for Central and East European Studies and the Academy of Social Sciences. Members of the Executive Committee represented BASEES at meetings. conferences. and congresses. Facilitating stholarly exchange through the support of BASEES Study Groups. A wide range of Study Groups advance research on dedicated areas, and these have become very adive since the pandemic. Producing a quarterly neV￿letter and frequent Bulletins designed to keep members infonned of important developments in Russian and East European studies in the UK and continental Europe. as well as providtng feedback from the various policy and other forums with which the Association vras engaged during the year. Continuing engagement ￿th research coundls, the British Academy and other organisations that rewe8ent and support the humanities and social sciences in the UK. Planning the annual conference for 2024. to be held in Cambrldge. Flnanclal revlew BASEES holds a cash r&serve in order to allow it to take advantage of strategic opportunities as they arise (e.g. c hosting conferences, under-writing certain activities where the return is uncertain, etc). The reserve also allows the organisation to be confident that it could fund an unexpected deficit on any of its activities (for example a deficit on the annual conference). The uneven pattem of expenditure makes it drfficult to identify a proper level of cash reseNes, but at the moment the organisation seeks to hold a reserve of belween £50.000 and £75.000 at the end of each financial year, although this figure is rewewed annually BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SLAVONIC AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES REPORT ICONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Resernes policy It is the policy of the charity that unrestrithd fijnds wtrich have not been designated for a speafic use should be maintsined at a level equivalent io belween three and six month's expenditure. The trustees considw that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding. they will be able to continue the charitys current activities while consideration is given to ways in which addits.onal funds may be raised. This level of reser¥es has been maintained throLKJh¢xrt the year. Maiorrisks The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the tharity is èxposed, and a￿ satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Structure, governance and management The chanty Wds established on 27 November 1991. The trustees who served during the year up to the date of SKJnature of the financial statements were: Prof. Matthias Neumann Dr Zoe Knox Dr Ben Phillips Dr Jan Gryta Dr Olena Palko Dr Victoria Hudson Prof Katharine Hodgson (Resigned 1 April 2023) (Appointed 1 April 2023) (Appointed 1 Wil 2023) Recruitment and appointment of tnths As the leading Leamed Society in tr* UK corwrRd with the &udy of Russia and Eastem Europe, BASEES has high profile which enables it to attract leading figures to serve as trustees. The Society also makes a deliberate attempt to recruit youngw scholars in order lo help them develop their careers arKI ensure that BASEES trustees have a wide range of experiences and perspectives. The Society advertises vacancies in its Newsletter and Bulletln. E¥isting members of the Commtttee also approach p0s￿ble trustees directly where they are believed to have particular apbtudes or experts"se. New truslees are provid8d ￿7th a briefing about their respor)sibilities. Ooanisational stnKture Trustees meet as a Committee twice a year at the Annual Conference (in April) and at a meeting in LorKlon. They review reports from Offi￿ holders (PresKlen( Treasurer. elc). The BASEES Secretary asks in advan￿ for any agenda items deemed of particular importance by trustees. Both the April and November meetings typically consider both operational and policy issues (in the latter case regarding such issues as intemational cooperation and liaison work with govemment agencies arKI similar bodies). A smaller group meets regularly (usually virtually) to discuss application for research support (the results are then communicated to the Treasurer who authorised payment when the relevanl activty has taken Fl￿). Smaller groups of trustees also meet from time to time to de with particular issues ranging from Corrference organisation through to financial planning {any conclusions or developments being outlined in ￿ reports noted earlier). The BASEES AGM is held at the April Conferen￿. Members attending the COnfe￿nce are asked to approve the accounts and the appointment of a￿ltorS a8 V￿11 as being given an opportunity to comment on the reports of officfrholders. They are also encouraged to raise any issues of interest and concem. 80th the Bulletin and the Newsletter are used to 'cascade out. informalion to ihe wider membership of BASEES. BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SLAVONIC AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 The reF)Ort was approved by the Board of Trustees. Prof Katharine Hodgson Trustee Date.. BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SLAVONIC AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SLAVONIC AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES I report to the trustees on my examination of the finan(ial statements of British Association of Slavonic and Ea81 European Studies (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2023. Responsibilltles and basls of report As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the CharitiesAct 2011 (the 2011 Act). I report in respect of my examination of the charivs financial ststements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying OLrt my examinalion I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission urKler section 145{5)(b) of the 2011 Act. Independent examlnerfs statement Your attention is dravm to the fact that the charity has prepared financial ststements in accwdartt wilh Accounting d Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordan￿ with Financial Rewrting Standard applicable In the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in FTrference to the Accounti￿ and Repoiting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issl￿d on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extsnl regulations tKrt has now been withdrawn. l understand that this has been done in order for financial statements to provide a true and fair view in accordance with Generally Accepted AccountirKJ Prndice effective for reporti￿ pwiods begiming on or after 1 January 2015. I have completed my examinalion. I confimi that no matters have come lo rny attention in cOn￿Cli0n with the examination giviNJ me cause to believe that in any material respect: accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act: or the ffinanaal statements do not accord with those records,. or the financial statements do not comply with the applicable reqU1￿MentS concerning the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts arKI Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view vthith is not a matter considered as part of an Independent examination. I have no cOn￿mS and have come across Th) otr*r matters in connection with examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a woper undwstsndirg of the finanaal ststemerts to be reached. Law&Co Pool House. Arran Close 106 Binningham Road Great Ba B43 7AD Birniingham Dated: . i