2024-04-30-accounts - The Apl Welfare Fund

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APL WELFARE FUND

REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

Charity number: 1082875

APL WELFARE FUND

I N D E X

Year ended 30 April 2024

	Page
General information	2
Trustees’ annual report	3
Independent examiner’s report	6
Statement of financial activities	7
Balance sheet	8
Notes to the financial statements	9

APL WELFARE FUND

G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N

Year ended 30 April 2024

Trustees (ex officio) Karen Bargues Trustees (nominated) Amélie Détré de Jong Afef Hamzaoui Melya Cozma (appointed 22 September 2023) Catherine Savoret (resigned 22 September 2023) Trustees (co-opted) Catherine Savoret (appointed 22 September 2023) Soraya Flitti (resigned 22 September 2023) Florence Gombault (resigned 23 September 2024) Charlotte Pierre (resigned 23 September 2024) Pascale Alvanitakis-Guély (appointed 23 September 2024) Valérie Etienne (appointed 23 September 2024) Address 35 Cromwell Road London SW7 2DG Independent examiner S J Wakefield ACA Dixon Wilson 22 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1LS Charity number 1082875

APL WELFARE FUND

T R U S T E E S ' A N N U A L R E P O R T

Year ended 30 April 2024

The Trustees submit the annual report together with the accounts of the charity for the year to 30 April 2024. The accounts comply with current statutory requirements and are in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Charities Act 2011, the Trust Deed, 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) (effective 1 January 2019). The report should be read in conjunction with the general information provided on page 2.

Administrative information

The APL Welfare Fund is a charity registered with the Charity Commission, registration number 1082875. It is governed by a trust deed dated 1 May 2000 and various supplemental deeds. The working name, under which the charity operates is, LFCG Families Charity Fund.

Structure, governance and management

The body of Trustees shall be complete when consisting of a minimum of three and up to seven persons being made up of the following: one ex officio Trustee, three Trustees nominated by the Committee of the Association des Parents d'élèves du Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle (“APL”), and three Trustees coopted by the existing Trustees.

The ex-officio Trustee shall be the President, for the time being, of the APL. The ex officio Trustee who served during the year and at the approval date of the accounts are shown on page 2.

The APL Committee may nominate individuals to be Trustees of the Charity. Each appointment of a nominated Trustee shall be made at a meeting convened and held according to the ordinary practice of the appointing body and for a term of one, two or three years as resolved by such appointing body at the time of making an appointment. No nominated Trustee may hold office for more than six consecutive years, but otherwise they shall always be eligible for re-appointment. The chairman of the meeting of the appointing body shall cause the name of each person appointed to be notified forthwith to the Trustees. The person appointed may be, but need not be, a member of the appointing body. The nominated Trustees who served during the year and at the approval date of the accounts are shown on page 2.

The Trustees may co-opt individuals to be Trustees of the Charity. The co-option shall be voted by a minimum of 80% of the Trustees present and voting. No co-opted Trustee may hold office for more than six consecutive years, but otherwise they shall always be eligible for re-appointment. If for any reason Trustees cannot be appointed in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the statutory power of appointing new or additional Trustees shall be exercisable. The co-opted Trustees who served during the year and at the approval date of the accounts are shown on page 2.

Objectives and activities

The object of the charity is, first and foremost, to serve the students from the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle and their families by helping with school fees payments, financing school trips, and supporting children with special educational needs. Should the opportunity arise, it can also financially support projects that benefit the entire school community.

The charity can also organise and engage in activities, events or projects which support the Lycée and advance the education and personal development of its pupils, thereby promoting the continual beneficial attendance and education of pupils at the Lycée.

When making charitable grants, the Trustees give careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.

The Trustees meet once per term to discuss and decide the grants for the term. Requests regarding special needs are considered as and when they are received as it is often the case that the support needs to be in place as soon as possible and cannot wait until the end of the term.

APL WELFARE FUND

T R U S T E E S ' A N N U A L R E P O R T

Year ended 30 April 2024

Usually, the Trustees meet families requesting help for school fees at their home to assess their situation once a year. When this is not possible, as a minimum, a meeting at the Lycée or a zoom meeting should be organised. Families requesting help for special education needs are usually met at the Lycée. It is very important for the Trustees to carefully review each family’s situation. Request forms are also completed by families for each term request, and they must also provide additional documentation in support of their application including but not limited to bank statements and P60s.

In September 2023, the Trustees together with a team of volunteering parents and the support of the Parents Association (the “APL”) launched again the sales of “viennoiseries” every Thursday on the SouthKensington site, with the introduction of card payments (via SumUp), to help finance school trips.

In December 2023, along with the sale of “viennoiseries”, a sale of Advent Calendar and “Galettes des Rois” were also organised to help again finance school trips.

The charity’s main fundraising event, the Gala Dinner, took place on 21 March 2024 at the InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel. All the 4,000 available tombola tickets were sold, and the draw was organised during the Gala dinner as usual. More than 80 lots were auctioned during the event. This fundraising campaign was a great success, and the charity was able to raise enough funds to continue its mission.

In October 2024, the Trustees launched the 2025 fundraising campaign, with a Gala dinner scheduled to take place at the Landmark London Hotel on 27 March 2025.

Public benefit

The Trustees, having regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission in accordance with section 17 of the Charities Act 2011, consider that the purpose and activities of the charity satisfy the requirements of the public benefit test set out in section 4 of the same act.

Organisation

The charity's affairs are carried on by its Trustees, who meet as necessary for this purpose.

Financial Review and Risk management

A summary of the charity’s results for the year are set out in the Statement of Financial Activities on page 7. The charity’s total outgoing resources for the year were £285,070 (2023 - £218,327), which has been funded through income generated from donations of £167,800 (2023 - £115,374), income generated from other trading activities £223,998 (2023 - £165,390), and investment income of £4,365 (2023 - £1,068), leaving a surplus for the year of £111,093 (2023 - £63,505).

The major risks to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the Trustees, have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate those risks.

Achievements and performance

During the year, the charity made grants of £178,902 (2023 - £121,489) for educational grants/extracurricular activities.

Reserves

The Trustees maintain a level of reserves that is sufficient to cover the fund’s costs for the forthcoming year. It is not the Trustees’ policy to over-distribute income. The carried forward Unrestricted Funds surplus on 30 April 2024 was £471,737 (2023 - £360,644).

10th February

APL WELFARE FUND

T R U S T E E S ' A N N U A L R E P O R T

Year ended 30 April 2024

Plans for the future

The charity plans to continue its actions towards the pupils of the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle and hopes its annual fundraising campaign will be again a great success. The Trustees keep looking for new ways of raising funds to have the means to continue its actions towards the pupils. The charity stays open to the possibility of supporting projects benefiting the school community should such projects arise. The charity will also work on being better known amongst the parents’ community of the school as the charity dedicated to the pupils and the school.

Approved by the Trustees on 10th February 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

V ETIENNE Trustee

APL WELFARE FUND

I N D E P E N D E N T E X A M I N E R ’ S R E P O R T

Year ended 30 April 2024

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE APL WELFARE FUND

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 30 April 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Charity’s Trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). You are satisfied that an audit is not required for this year under charity law and that an independent examination is needed.

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.

An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently does not cover all the matters that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the accounts. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently, I express no opinion as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner’s statement.

Independent examiner’s statement

I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

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:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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; or
the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

I have no concerns and have come across no 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.

S J WAKEFIELD ACA Dixon Wilson 22 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1LS 2025 11 February

APL WELFARE FUND

S T A T E M E N T O F F I N A N C I A L A C T I V I T I E S

Year ended 30 April 2024

Note Income and expenditure Income from: Donations and legacies 2 Income from other trading activities 2 Investments 2 Total Expenditure on: Raising funds 3 Charitable activities 4 Total Net income Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward(page 8)	Unrestricted funds 2024 2023 £ £ 167,800 115,374 223,998 165,390 4,365 1,068 396,163 281,832 99,193 91,755 185,877 126,572 285,070 218,327 111,093 63,505 360,644 297,139 471,737 360,644
	2024 £ 167,800 223,998 4,365 396,163 99,193 185,877 285,070 111,093 360,644 471,737

All amounts are in respect of continuing operations.

APL WELFARE FUND

B A L A N C E S H E E T

At 30 April 2024

Note Current assets Debtors 5 Cash at bank and in hand 6 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 7 Net current assets Total net assets The funds of the Charity: Unrestricted funds(page 7)	Unrestricted funds 2024 2023 £ £ 35,285 19,416 444,187 366,531 479,472 385,947 (7,735) (25,303) 471,737 360,644 471,737 360,644 471,737 360,644

The financial statements on pages 7 to 11 were approved by the Trustees on 2025 and 10th February signed on their behalf by:

V ETIENNE Trustee

N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

APL WELFARE FUND

Year ended 30 April 2024

1. Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by 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 and the Charities Act 2011.

The Trust constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

Income

Income from donations is recognised once the charity has the right to receive the donation, it is probable that the economic benefits will be received, and the amount of the donation can be measured reliably.

Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.

Income from both the sale of goods and income derived from the gala fundraising dinner is recognised as earned (that is, as the related goods or services are provided).

Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Grants payable are recognised as and when the recipient has been notified of the grant award.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

Support and governance costs

The charity does not incur support costs. Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice. Governance costs relate to charitable activities.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from taxation under sections 521 to 536 of the Income Tax Act 2007.

APL WELFARE FUND

N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

Year ended 30 April 2024

2. Income from: Donations and legacies Gifts from individuals Gala Gifts from other charities Gifts from companies Income from other trading activities Viennoiseries sales Gala dinner and tombola Primary school trips Investments Bank interest	2024 £ 31,029 93,184 32,956 10,631 167,800 30,159 192,885 954 223,998 4,365 396,163	2023 £ 14,619 86,840 10,000 3,915 115,374 31,205 133,385 800 165,390 1,068 281,832
3. Costs of generating funds Gala evening costs Processing fees Viennoiseries costs	2024 £ 79,757 805 18,631 99,193	2023 £ 73,029 2,727 15,999 91,755
4. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities Grants payable for educational purposes Office and administration Governance costs allocated to charitable activities: Accountancy fees Independent examiner’s fees	2024 £ 178,902 158 179,060 3,326 3,491 185,877	2023 £ 121,489 - 121,489 2,223 2,860 126,572

APL WELFARE FUND

N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

Year ended 30 April 2024

5. Debtors Other debtors	2024 £ 35,285 35,285	2023 £ 19,416 19,416
6. Cash at bank and in hand Current account Savings account Cash in hand	2024 £ 33,956 410,196 35 444,187	2023 £ 160,665 205,831 35 366,531
7. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Independent examiner’s fee accrual Accountancy fees accrual Sundry creditors	2024 £ 3,600 2,400 1,735 7,735	2023 £ 2,630 1,753 20,920 25,303

8. Related party transactions

The Trustees received no emoluments during the year (2023 - £nil). Trustees’ expenses reimbursed during the year totalled £561 (2023 - £1,579).