18/06/2025 TRUSTEES REPORT: CHARITY COMMISSION ANNUAL RETURN 2024 Wales Puja Committee Charity Registration No: 1050138 The Charity Commission for England and Wales ## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the Financial Year 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024** Dear Sir or Madam, We are pleased to submit the Trustees’ Annual Report for the Wales Puja Committee (WPC) for the period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024, in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and current guidance issued by the Charity Commission. ## Objectives and Activities Our principal aim remains the celebration and promotion of Hindu culture, spirituality, and community through the observance of key festivals and inclusive community events. This is very much central to much of what we do. We seek to foster cultural identity and intergenerational engagement through shared heritage and artistic programming. ## Achievements and Performance In this reporting period, we successfully hosted our core religious and cultural festivals: Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Saraswati Puja, which were attended by members of all ages and backgrounds. We also delivered vibrant community celebrations, including a Sports Day/Summer Festival and Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year). 2023 marked WPC’s Golden Jubilee, an extraordinary milestone. We received a generous grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to help celebrate this. The Durga Puja was held in the prestigious Temple of Peace and Health in Cardiff City Centre attracting big gatherings on every day. We even held a Mahalaya celebration in the Museum of Cardiff to welcome the pujas. The occasion was also celebrated with a headline performance by Krosswindz, a leading Indian rock fusion band. Their performance was supported via the Nights Out (Arts Council of Wales), who generously covered the artist fees directly. This flagship event underscored our long-standing dedication to blending heritage with contemporary expression. It was the tradition in the WPC to cook our own meals during Pujas and Festivals. This has become more difficult in recent years with restrictions on cooking in venues and growing numbers of attendees. We hired the Community Kitchen at Oasis, a charity for immigrants and asylum seekers where we taught them some Indian cooking skills and for every mel that we served in the Pujas, a matched meal was donated to the asylum seekers and homeless at Oasis. This we felt was a great way to celebrate our Golden Anniversary year. ## Financial Overview Total income for the year was £37,336, inclusive of generous donations and a £9,600 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support our 50th anniversary programme. Our total expenditure was £36,018, with all financial records detailed in the Treasurer’s Report and Independent Assessment submitted alongside this letter. ## Governance and Management The Wales Puja Committee is managed by a Board of Trustees, supported by an Executive Committee. Meetings are held regularly at our office premises, with additional subgroup meetings to address specific organisational needs. ## Compliance and Future Planning We remain committed to good governance and safeguarding. Many of our members— predominantly NHS, teaching, and social care professionals—already hold valid DBS checks, and we will be encouraging all active volunteers to refresh these as needed. We also acknowledge the evolving regulatory framework of the Charity Commission. In alignment with this, we are currently awaiting formal Consent to amend our Constitution to reflect this along with our future aspirations and modern operational needs. ## Public Benefit Statement The trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission. We extend our deepest gratitude to our volunteers, donors, and community members whose support sustains our mission. Together, we look forward to another year of vibrant cultural celebration and community service. Yours sincerely, Dr Sakti Guha Niyogi Head of Trustees On behalf of the Board of Trustees Wales Puja Committee Dr Sakti Guha Niyogi, 206 Heol Hir, Thornhill, Cardiff CF14 9LA Wales Puja Committee, 3[rd] Floor, Greyfriar’s House, Greyfriar’s Road, Cardiff CF10 3AL walespujacommittee@gmail.com WCIAHAM bAt 2673ts1 RAtOo Caljtttkn Elrtirnnlu devl(e 215 10 K.K. 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[￿t1P14..{￿7l.￿I £21.70X95 ye4r 20ZJ -24ilccwni bélltsit i5=> 122 123 Surplu4rJ - £lJ1I24 0.19 rgapuja Final '23-24 **Independent examiner's report on** **the accounts** **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report** ~~a~~ **Report to the trustees/** Charity Name **members of** Wales Puja Committee ~~ee~~ **On accounts for the year** 31 August 2024 **Charity no** 1050138 **ended (if any)** ~~eeeeee~~ **Set out on pages** 1 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) ~~po~~ I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 August 2024. **Responsibilities and** As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the **basis of report** accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. **Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - • the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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. 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. **Date:** 09/06/2025 **Signed:** ~~ee~~ **Name:** PAUL SIMON BROWN ~~pe~~ **Relevant professional** FCIE, DChA, **qualification(s) or body (if any):** ~~a~~ **Address:** 2 Ger y Mynydd, Hirwaun, Aberdare CF44 9RD ~~|~~