**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1069116** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT AND** **UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** ## **FOR** ## **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE** Devendran Nagalingam The Old School House 6 Havelock Place Harrow Middlesex HA1 1LJ **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Page
Trustees' Report 1 to 5
Independent Examiner's Report 6
Statement of Financial Activities 7
Balance Sheet 8
Cash Flow Statement 9
Notes to the Cash Flow Statement 10
Notes to the Financial Statements 11 to 13
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 14
**----- End of picture text -----**
**THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2021. 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** The Friends of the French Institute supports the educational activities of the French Institute in London as regards French art, language, literature and culture. Founded in 1910, the Institut français du Royaume-Uni comprises a language centre, 2 cinemas (Ciné Lumière I & II), a multi-media library (La Médiathèque), a children's library (Bibliothèque Quentin Blake) and a café-restaurant. The principal educational and cultural activity of the French Institute designed to advance these broad objectives is the showing of French and European films, debates and concerts at the Ciné Lumière, located at the French Institute's premises at 17 Queensberry Place in South Kensington, which was completely refurbished in 2008 with the Charity's active involvement and reopened by Catherine Deneuve in 2009. The French Institute also promotes French culture through its libraries and reading room: the multimedia library, La Médiathèque, a distinctive Grade II listed venue, is also a window on contemporary France and holds the largest free-access collection of French material in the UK, covering all aspects of French culture and society. The French Institute exists also to encourage cross-cultural exchanges. The programming of talks and films reflects this dual aim, with speakers from both side of the Channel meeting regularly in discussion, and screenings of films from all corners of the world. The French Institute lays a particular emphasis on reaching younger generations, with programming activities aimed directly at all school ages and with library activities aimed at different age ranges from pre-nursery upwards. Specific initiatives such as the South Ken kids Festival SKKF introduce young people to the best of French and British literature and illustration. The outreach of the French Institute is illustrated by the following statistics: 200,000 visitors a year 60,000 spectators at the Ciné Lumière 7,000 students at the Language Centre 3,000 members of the Institut 60,000 physical items in the catalogue of the Médiathèque 160,000 digital items on Culturethèque, the online library of the Institut 1000+ screenings at the Ciné Lumière 300 films screened 60,000 subscribers to the e-newsletter 50,000 monthly visits on the website 23,000 followers on Facebook 22,000 followers on Twitter 6,500 followers on Instagram 70% of our audience is non-French Page 1 **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE** **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** ## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE** 1. Funding of the ten year of Diaphonique, a Franco-British fund for contemporary music which is also supported by The British council, the Bureau Export, the French Culture Ministry, and the SACEM in France. ## 2. Support of several cultural activities, especially in literature, for children and adults: South Ken Kid Festival - an occasion to celebrate children's writing, illustration, translation, and children's books with a selection of writers and illustrators from both sides of the Channel. Beyond Words - an annual festival of live French literature organised by the Institut français in London and across the country which features literary conversations between some of the newest French and English-language writers of the last few years, recent film adaptations, and musical performances. Amongst many others, the guests of the 2021 online edition were the American philosopher Henry David Thoreau, Frantz Fanon, the Turner Prize-winning contemporary artist Laure Prouvost and the virtuoso guitarist Thibaut Garcia. Night of Ideas - Launched by the Institut français in 2016, the NIGHT OF IDEAS is a project staged simultaneously in Paris, London and worldwide, at the end of January. In 2021 context of lockdown, the London edition of the NIGHT OF IDEAS became an online week-long festival from 22 to 29 January. Crossing French, British and European perspectives, and with the theme TOGETHER as a common thread, the Night of Ideas tackled the latest ideas behind issues central to our particularly troubled era marked by the sanitary crisis and Brexit. A classical music program : Les Salons en Musique - launched in June 2018 to celebrate the restoration of its 1907 Pleyel grand piano,, a compendium of French world-renowned Chamber Music performers, travels across times and borders. ## 3. Fundraising to contribute to education programmes : Access to education is one of the essential missions of the French Institute in the UK with up to 10,000 visiting pupils from 153 schools hosted every year. Located in South Kensington, London, the Institute has built long lasting relationships with schools from the neighbouring communities and is regularly welcoming schools located in the less favoured boroughs of London. The French Institute in the UK also supervises a nationwide educational network comprising a French Institute in Edinburgh, 11 Alliances françaises throughout the UK, 15 accredited French schools, 3 British schools teaching partly in French and 55 associations supporting the French language The priority of the French Institute is to offer bespoke programmes for young audiences with a specific attention towards harder-to-reach audiences, students from communities and children with special access needs and disabilities. 4. Fundraising campaign for a new major project, after the creation of an additional movie theatre in 2019 : Projet Connexion At the heart of the French Institute Cultural Centre, the Foyer connects the 2 cinemas, multi-media library, elegant reception rooms and restaurant. After the opening of the second cinema in June 2019, the Foyer was the last public space in the Cultural Centre still to be renovated. With a total budget of around £ 600.000, this project started in November 2020 and was carried out during the lockdown till April 2021. The reopening of the cultural centre on the 17 May 2021 was the occasion to inaugurate the new Foyer and revealed the creation of a seamless and interactive visitor experience online on the Institute's website and onsite in the Foyer of the Cultural Centre. Revamped acoustics and lighting highlighted the features and grandeur of the exceptional Art Deco space, while creating a friendly atmosphere. New signage providing clear and attractive directions and designer furniture added a stylish touch to the place and improved the visitor experience. Accessibility in all its aspects, inclusion and transmission to younger generations were at the heart of the project with the creation of a lift leading to the basement and the new Cine Lumiere II. Technological innovations provide easy and engaging access to the programme and ticketing. The Foyer became a vibrant digital-based hub inspiring the visitor to participate and interact immediately on arrival in the French Institute. Page 2 **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE** **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** A new space dedicated to the younger public and educational activities, l'Atelier, was created and will facilitate multicultural exchanges and closer contacts with British schools. ## 5. Launching a new campaign for the next project of the modernisation of the Language Centre : The spreading of the French Language is essential to France's international appeal and outreach and as part of its cultural influence. The teaching of the French language, through its Language Centre, is therefore at the heart of the Institut français' mission. French is the 5th most spoken language in the world, and one of the fastest-growing ones. French is also still the first foreign language learnt at school in the UK. The Language Centre of the Institute has introduced French culture to hundreds of thousand students over the years and is key in keeping French among the UK's top choices for the study of a foreign language. It attracts some 7000 students every year and offers a wide range of French courses, onsite or online, standard, intensive or specialised, private or in group. Under the guidance of 90 highly qualified teachers, all native speakers, students learn in a stimulating environment. Keeping its listed building, ideally located in front of the South Kensington tube station, the Language Centre will have its interior revamped, and its digital offering fully modernised, to enable it to go on welcoming people in the best way possible, and to help it to attract more students, and improve its accessibility. The overall aim is to match the surroundings to the top quality of its teaching, and to generate additional income allowing the development of new cultural programmes led by the Institute. Staged in several phases over a few years, this project - starting in July - 2021 will reach an overall amount of approx. 3M£ ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** During that period £ 464,800 were granted to the French Institute for the financing of Connexion project to modernize the public reception of the French Institute, install a lift leading to the basement and the second projection room, modernization of video recording of events in the cinema, supporting the library, supporting Fluxus program (dedicated to contemporary art and led by the French Institute) and different cultural events (Night of Ideas and South Ken Kid Festival). ## £ 429,500 were raised through the year in order to secure the current projects. The total amount of cash at bank on the 31 March 2021 is £ 487,447.20. The charity raises funds for specific projects but have now a general policy on reserves through the existence since 2017 of a "Circle of Friends" renamed "Patrons Circle" (about 20 people who contribute to bring a support to the functioning of the Trust and should allow the Trust to have a global £ 100,000 reserves at the end of the current projects of the Trust). ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing document** The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity. Page 3 **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** The charity's governing document is a declaration of trust made on the 5th February 1998 modified on 17th March 2010, 9th May 2011, 23rd May 2014 and 8th October 2014. The charity is an unincorporated body first registered on the 15th April 1998. Under these Regulations, the charity has constituted as sub-committees of the trustees an Administrative Committee and a Centre de Langue Committee. The body of trustees consists of not less than seven persons, of whom one holds office ex-officio and the remainder are co-opted. The ex-officio trustee is the French Cultural Counsellor to the United Kingdom from time to time. Co-opted trustees are appointed for a term of four years by deed of all the trustees subject to acceptance of office and ratification by the French Ambassador to the United Kingdom from time to time. In the period, the total number of trustees reached thirteen, of whom three are British nationals and ten French nationals. NAME NOMINATION DATES Mrs S Bressler Appointed trustee on May 13, 2019 Mr B Buchwalter Appointed trustee on February 1, 2021 Mr J Gabillon Appointed trustee on March 3, 2014 Mr V Gombault Appointed trustee on January 18, 2016 Mr T Groell Appointed trustee on May 9, 2011 Sir J Holmes Appointed trustee on November 9, 2020 Mr X Mayer Appointed trustee on July 2, 2012 Mr M Mourre Appointed trustee on November 26, 2007 Appointed chairman on January 14, 2010 Mr E Reed Appointed trustee on May 9, 2011 Mrs C Ripert-Landler Appointed trustee on March 8, 2021 Sir J Scarlett Appointed trustee on July 2, 2012 Mrs D Segalen Appointed trustee on November 9, 2020 Mr B Verbrugghe Appointed trustee on November 9, 2020 Trustee ex-officio : Mr B Buchwalter, Cultural Counsellor to the French Embassy in the UK. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number** 1069116 **Principal address** 17 Queensberry Place London SW7 2DT ## **Trustees** Mr M Mourre Mr T De Fontaubert (resigned 20/5/2020) Mr J Gabillon Mr F Lang (resigned 9/11/2020) Mr X Mayer Mr E N Reed Sir J Scarlett Mr T Groell Mr V Gombault Mrs C Ripert-Landler (appointed 8/3/2021) Mrs S Bressler Lady E Arbuthnot (resigned 18/1/2021) Sir J Holmes (appointed 9/11/2020) Mr B Verbrugghe (appointed 9/11/2020) Mrs D Segalen (appointed 9/11/2020) Mr B Buchwalter (appointed 1/2/2021) Page 4 **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Independent Examiner** Devendran Nagalingam The Old School House 6 Havelock Place Harrow Middlesex HA1 1LJ Approved by order of the board of trustees on 10 January 2022 and signed on its behalf by: Mr M Mourre - Trustee Page 5 **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE** ## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Friends of the French Institute** I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Friends of the French Institute (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2021. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the 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 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## **Independent examiner's statement** Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a registered member of Chartered Certified Accountants which is one of the listed bodies. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. the accounts do 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. Devendran Nagalingam Chartered Certified Accountants Devendran Nagalingam The Old School House 6 Havelock Place Harrow Middlesex HA1 1LJ 12 January 2022 Page 6 **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** |**Notes**
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
2
Other income|**2021**
**Unrestricted**
**fund**
**£**
429,500
61,250|**2020**
**Total funds**
**£**
468,052
48,750| |---|---|---| |**Total**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
3
**Charitable activities**
4
Grants Provided
Other|490,750
29,629
464,800
4,350|516,802
49,685
522,000
3,510| |**Total**|498,779|575,195| |**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
**Total funds brought forward**|(8,029)
486,686|(58,393)
545,079| |**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|478,657|486,686| The notes form part of these financial statements Page 7 **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE** **BALANCE SHEET 31 MARCH 2021** |**Notes**
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Cash at bank
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
9|**2021**
**Unrestricted**
**fund**
**£**
487,447
(8,790)|**2020**
**Total funds**
**£**
494,491
(7,805)| |---|---|---| |**NET CURRENT ASSETS**|478,657|486,686| |**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**|478,657|486,686| |**NET ASSETS**|478,657|486,686| |**FUNDS**
Unrestricted funds|478,657|486,686| |**TOTAL FUNDS**|478,657|486,686| The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 10 January 2022 and were signed on its behalf by: Mr M Mourre - Trustee The notes form part of these financial statements Page 8 **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** |**Notes**
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Cash generated from operations
1
Net cash used in operating activities
**Change in cash and cash**
**equivalents in the reporting period**
**Cash and cash equivalents at the**
**beginning of the reporting period**
**Cash and cash equivalents at the**
**end of the reporting period**|**2021**
**£**
(7,044)
(7,044)
(7,044)
494,491
487,447|**2020**
**£**
(46,022)
(46,022)
(46,022)
540,513
494,491| |---|---|---| The notes form part of these financial statements Page 9 **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE NOTES TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** ## **1. RECONCILIATION OF NET EXPENDITURE TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES** |**ACTIVITIES**||| |---|---|---| |**Net expenditure for the reporting period (as per the**
**Statement of Financial Activities)**
**Adjustments for:**
Decrease in debtors
Increase in creditors||**2021**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
(8,029)
(58,393)
-
7,560
985
4,811| |**Net cash used in operations**||(7,044)
(46,022)| |2.
**ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS**
**At 1/4/20**
**£**
**Net cash**
Cash at bank
494,491||**Cash flow**
**At 31/3/21**
**£**
**£**
(7,044)
487,447| ||494,491|(7,044)
487,447| |**Total**|494,491|(7,044)
487,447| The notes form part of these financial statements Page 10 **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** ## **Basis of preparing the financial statements** The financial statements of the charity, 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 Charities Act 2011. 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. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure. ## **Taxation** The charity is exempt from 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. ## **2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES** **----- Start of picture text -----**
|||| |---|---|---| |2021|2020| |£|£| |Donations|429,500|468,052| **----- End of picture text -----**
continued... Page 11 **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** ## **3. RAISING FUNDS** |**Other trading activities**
Fund Raising Cost
Support costs
**4.**
**CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS**
Grants Provided
**5.**
**GRANTS PAYABLE**
Grants Provided
The total grants paid to institutions during the year was as
follows:
Grants Provided
**6.**
**SUPPORT COSTS**
Other resources expended|**2021**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
29,629
49,673
-
12
29,629
49,685
**Grant**
**funding of**
**activities**
**(see note**
**5)**
**£**
464,800
**2021**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
464,800
522,000
**2021**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
464,800
522,000
**Governance**
**costs**
**£**
4,350| |---|---| ## **7. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS** There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2021 nor for the year ended 31 March 2020. ## **Trustees' expenses** There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2021 nor for the year ended 31 March 2020. continued... Page 12 **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** ## **8. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** |**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
Other income
**Total**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
**Charitable activities**
Grants Provided
Other
**Total**
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
**Total funds brought forward**
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
**9.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Other creditors
**10.**
**RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**|**Unrestricted**
**fund**
**£**
468,052
48,750
516,802
49,685
522,000
3,510
575,195
(58,393)
545,079
486,686
**2021**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
8,790
7,805| |---|---| There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2021. Page 13 **THE FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH INSTITUTE DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** |**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations
**Other income**
Other Income
**Total incoming resources**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Other trading activities**
Fund Raising Cost
**Charitable activities**
Grants to institutions
**Support costs**
**Finance**
Bank charges
**Governance costs**
Accountancy and legal fees
Total resources expended
**Net expenditure**|**2021**
**£**
429,500
61,250
490,750
29,629
464,800
-
4,350
498,779
(8,029)|**2020**
**£**
468,052
48,750
516,802
49,673
522,000
12
3,510
575,195
(58,393)| |---|---|---| This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements Page 14