Belarusian Charitable Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee and not having a Share Capital. Registered No: 2780180 (England and Wales)
52A Penn Road, London, N7 9RE. e-mail: zbvb@btinternet.com
BCT Trustees:
Mr. P. Shevtsov, Chair of the Council, Mr. S. Piatkevich, the Secretary/Treasurer,
Mr. V. Evdokimov trustee, Mr. J. Jaswilowicz, trustee, Mr. M. Szwedziuk, trustee, Mr. A. Kasijiak, trustee, Mr. I. Labacevich, trustee
Trustees Annual Report For 2022/2023 Financial Year
(Prepared in accordance with the Charity Commission guidance)
.Activities and objectives: During 2022/2023 Financial Year the Trustees of the Belarusian Charitable Trust fulfilled charitable objectives for the public benefits according to the requirements of section 4 of the Companies Act 2006 and Memorandum of the Trust through allocation of grants and support not-for-profit projects in education and training, publication of books, providing help to belarusians in need, including projects of F.Skaryna Library and Museum, awards to young Belarusian writers, scientists and students as well as a humanitarian aid. To approve/reject applications, Trustees have five meetings/zoommeetings/conference calls on: 22 May, 21 October 2022, 29 January, 21 February and 25 March 2023.
Achievements and performance: There are two main sources of income, namely: company’s properties and investments and thanks to Trustee’s policy to gradually increase the rent rate, BCT continues to benefit from stable income by renting out company’s properties. As result, in the current FY this index increased by nearly 7% and achieved £39,840.00 as compared with £37,328.00 in 2021/2022 FY. In accordance with the BCT medium term strategy for the expansion of the charitable activity in the current FY the Trustees were very selective in choosing projects and achieving BCT objectives to the public benefit. As consequences of the chosen approach, the Trust’s financial support was wider and larger in scale but at the same time accurate and transparent in execution of transactions. So, in 2022/2023 Financial Year, the charitable support has been approved by the Trustees for the total amount of £35,824.89 or up 7% as compared with £33,216.70 in the previous financial period.
Thanks to the Trustee’s careful and grounded decisions, expanded quantitative indexes were successfully converted in high quality projects with following principal examples: to preserve data and documents for further generations F. Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum was supported to fulfil the project dedicated to the Processing, Conserving and Digitising of the History Collections in a wider context of Belarusian Diaspora Organisations in Great Britain and other western countries as well as to carry out the cultural project “Art-interviews” with representatives of belarusian diaspora living in the UK; due to high demand from the public it was ordered re- publication of the book dedicated to Belarusian history written by one of the reputable belarusian historian-writer as well as publication of the Belarusian-English & English-Belarusian dictionary prepared by highly qualified belarusian scientist; annual awards to young writers and scientists selected by the professional committee who won the competition for the best essay, poem, scientific paper; research/study project ”Supporting
belarusian women to share experiences of gender based violence and patriarchy using poetry: an autoethnographic approach”; humanitarian aid to cover food, medication and living expenses for the belarusians in need.
It should be noted that the Trust has no People with Significant Control, no debt and there were no funds held in custody. For the year ending 31 March 2023, the BCT was entitled for exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies, and the Trustees have not required to obtain audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
External Examiner Report for 2022/2023 FY: External examiner report has been prepared by Mr. D. J. Corr who is highly qualified professional with University Degree, currently employed by USA corporation in London, at the same time has a background experience as self-employed, and, therefore, familiar with all aspects of business accounting.
With respect of the examination of the BCT accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act, Mr. D.J. Corr, as external examiner confirmed that all receipts, bills and statements for the financial year ended 31.03.2023 are in order. For both Community and Donation accounts the balance on April 2022, calculation of income and expenditure during reporting period is matched with the balance on April 2023 and amount of cash in hands. The data from the “Rathbone Investment Management” Tax Report for the period 06 April 2022 to 05 April 2023, including cash movement are correctly reflected in the Income/Expenditure accounts and with those in Micro-Entity Accounts which are going to be submitted to both the Companies House and the Charity Commission. In summary, external examiner has no concerns and no material or other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in the report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Investment and Property Development policy review : Currently, Europe faces a stickier inflation problem than the US, with analysts warning of a divergence in the economic fortunes between the two regions. After reaching multi-decade highs last year, US inflation has fallen much more quickly than in the EU. While European growth is weakening, the US record an annual expansion of 2.1% in the second quarter. Many economists believe lower inflation will allow the US Federal reserve to start cutting rates before the Bank of England and the European Central Bank. With persistent inflation and high interest rates, global economic growth is expected to continue slowing in the coming months.
After 14 consecutive rate hikes, in September 2023 the Bank of England paused at 5.25% following a surprise decline in August inflation to 6.7%. The Bank says it no longer expects a recession, but that the economy would remain near stagnation for the next two years.
Generally, this provides some more volatility for BCT equities. In accordance with the BCT’s charitable objectives and long-term strategy, Trustees are in a position to keep healthy balance between investments with the “Rathbone Investment Management” and BCT properties with the purpose of effectively use funds for charitable purposes when requested for a medium risk tolerance portfolio with a long time horizon which aim over time to achieve returns above the rate of inflation and should reflect majority of fluctuations in value of major equity markets.
The Report approved by the Trustees on 30/12/2023 Siarhei Piatkevich, BCT Secretary.
Registered Number 02780180 BELARUSIAP4 CHARITABLE TRUST LIMITED .Micro-entity Accounts 31 Trlarch 2023
BELARUSIAN CHARITABLE TRLTST LIMfrED Registered Number 02780180 Micro-entitv Balance Sheet as Ydt 31 March 2023 Nole. 2(J23 2(J22 Fixed Assets 985.254 974.853 Current Assets 12.585 17,387 INet current assets (liabililies) 12,585 17,387 Total assets less current liabilities 997,839 992,240 Total net assets {liabilities) 997.839 99?,240 Reserves 997,839 99?.240 For the year ending 31 March ?023 the coinpany H'as entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 7006 relating Io small companies. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the rquirements of the Companies Act ?006 with respecl to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. The accounls haN'e been prepared in accoTdance with the Illicront1lY proYi5ions and delivered in accordancc with thc provisions applicablc to companics subjcct to thc small companics rcgimc. Approved by the Board on 30 December ?023 And signed on their behalf by: Mr. S. Piatkevich. Director
BELARUSIAN CHARITABLE TRLTST LIMfrED Registered Number 02780180 Notes to the Micro-entitv Account5 for the period ended 31 March 2023 Employees 2023 2022 Averagc numbcr of employees during the pcriod This docum¢nt was d¢liver¢d using ¢leclronic communications and authenticaled in accordance with the r¢gistrar's rules r¢laling to ¢l¢ctronic forni. authentication and mann¢r ot delivery under s¢¢tion 1072 of the Companies Act 2006.
CHARITY (OMMISSION FOR ENGLAND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts S•ctlon A Independent Examlno1'8 Report Report to Ihc trustees members of Belarusian Chanlable Trust Limited On accounts forthe year ended 31 December 2023 Charity no lil anyl 1057033 Set out on page$ One page ION2Èn. I report to the trusiees on my exatninalion ef the accounts of the above charity I'lhe Trust") for the yèar ended Rospot)sibilities and basis of report As the thÈrity'$ tTUStees. you are responsible for the preparation of tt acceunls In accordance with the requIffnts of the Charities Act 2011 l Teport In respect ol my examinaiion ol the Trust's a¢counls carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act anLI In carryin9 Out my examination, I have followed all the ap1¢able Directn$ given Oy the Charity CommissK)n under section 14515llbl of Ihe Atx Independent I have compleied my examinalK)n. I wnfirm that no maten81 matters have exarninerfs statement come lo my atteniion In wnnethon with the exarninatw which gives me cause lo belEve that in, any matenal respect. thè 3ttounting records We not kept in acCOrdar with secbon 130 of the Chanties Aci. or the accounts not accor(S with ffte accouniing records." or the accounts did not comply wlh the applrable fequirements toneerning the form and tontent of &count5 set out In the CharitES (Accounts Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requiretnenl that the accounts give a'lrue and fair. view which Is nol a maiter n51dered as part of an IndepenQeni examinaiwM. I have no concems and have come across no Olher matters In conneetw with the examiTralion lo which aiiention should drawn In Ihis report in order enÈble a txtyper urtdÈrstanding of the accounts lo be reache¢J. . Pleasè delete Ihe wordsin the bCklS1r1h*Yo t70t8pply Signed- Date: 2111212023 Name.. Mr. D. J. Ctyr Relèvant prtsltssional 4ualifi¢aiionlsl or body Addre5$.' Flat 346, Penn Road London N7 9RE IER Oct 2018