2024-03-31-accounts

VEDANTA BIDYASHRAM (CHARITY NO: 1123282)

“PROVIDING EDUCATION TO INDIA’S POOREST CHILDREN”

ANNUAL REPORT 2024

Principal Office 36 Newick Avenue, Little Aston, Birmingham B74 3DA

Trustees Chairman - Dr Sujan Kumar Kundu MB BS Treasurer - Mr Sudipta Basudev Kundu MA (Cantab) Constitution Governed by Trust Deed dated 24 February 2008

Objectives and activities

The trustees must apply the income of the Charity in furthering the following objects:

1. To advance primary education for under-privileged children including establishing, promoting, assisting and maintaining primary schools and libraries for this purpose; to establish and / or to provide funding for these children to undertake further education, to the extent that they are able to progress to more advanced stages of their education;

2. To advance the education and training of secondary school age children;

3. To relieve sickness and promote and protect good health by the provision of medical treatment or assistance in obtaining medical treatment;

4. To provide relief of need and suffering among victims of natural or other kinds of disaster in the form of money (or other means deemed suitable) for persons, bodies, organisations and/or countries affected as the trustees shall think fit.

Achievements and performance

Vedanta Bidyashram (‘ VB ’ or ‘ the Charity ’), which loosely translated means “a place of learning at the feet of the master”, was granted charitable status by the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 20 March 2008.During the accounting period to 31 March 2024 (‘2024’), the Charity has focussed on three key projects:

Primary school in Serampore

Serampore is a relatively small city (by Indian standards) with a population of circa 200,000 which is situated some 20 km north of Kolkata, on the west bank of the Hooghly River, where primary school education continues to be successfully provided to approximately 300 children and the charity supports circa 20 staff (15 teachers and 5 ancillary staff e.g. cooks).

New primary school in Sundarbans

Sundarbans is located in the southern part of West Bengal (and stretching across to Bangladesh) and is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal, and is the largest mangrove forest in the world. Preliminary design, planning permission and building work commenced in 2021 and was largely completed 2023/24.

New premises at Purulia

Purulia is located in the western-most region of West Bengal. Land was donated by local tribal elders to the Charity’s sister Indian organisation (Vedanta Vidyashram) and new premises have been constructed with funds from VB to provide a breakfast club, tuition and

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clothing to l(Kal childTen, following which the children go onto their existing primary schools. The club premises includes a kitchen and dining aro and toilet facilities. The Trustees continued to obtsin support from an Advisory Committee based in Kolka Indi4 which provides its services free to VB. Through this advisory committee, projects and detailed funding requests are brought to the attention of the Trustees for their consideration and approval and this local team provides the necessary leadership and management 'on the ground, in Indi& Dr S K Kundu once again spent approximately 5 months of the year in Indi4 overseeing the implementation of the schools, development programmes. Financial review Incon￿ and expendilure During the period under review, had net income of £26,629 and expenditure substantially all on the above three projects of £51,376. Closingfinancialposition ￿year end At year end, the Charity had an 'unrestricted' surplus available for its work of £15.9k comprising cash at bank of £30.3k and monies invested in liquid investments (primarily UK shares) of £137.5k with accrued costs, borne by the Chairn]a￿ of circa £151.9k (and a further £ 100 of initial Trust Capital). As the Charity currently obtains all services (advisory committee, trustees etc) free of charge. it does not currently incur any administration costs and therefore does not specifically seek to maintain a minimum level of reserves, other than the initial £ 100 Trust Capitsl provided on the establishment of the Trust. Public benefit statement Throughout the period under review, the Charity's trustees have sought to comply with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Commission in exercising their powers or duties (and in particular the guidance for charities working internationally). Signed on behalf of the Trustees Mr Sudipta Kundu Treasurer

Vedanta Bidyashram

Accounts for Year Ended 31 March 2024

Income & Expenditure Income Donations Investment returns Tax reclaim from HMRC in period Expenditure Expenditure relating to West Bengal schools Other expenditure Net income /(loss)	31-Mar-24 £ 20,000 6,629 0
	26,629
	(51,270) (106)
	(51,376)
	(24,747)

Balance sheet Cash at bank Killik Investment Funds Creditors / accruals Total net assets Charity initial capital Unrestricted funds	31-Mar-23 £ 33,424 130,830 (123,600) 40,654 £ 100 40,554 40,654	31-Mar-24 £ 30,318 137,459 (151,870)
		15,907
		£ 100 15,807 15,907

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Independent examiner's report on the accounts CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of VEDANTA BIDYASHRAM On accounts for the year ended 31 MARCH 2024 Charity no (if any) 1123282 Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The Chari￿s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (-the Charities Act") and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act. and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordan￿ with general Directions given by the examinèr's statemènt Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes considerab'on of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair, view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examinerfs In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention statement 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,. and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met., or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 28 January 2025 Name: Rudy John Sargo Relevant professional qualification{s) or body): SAICA (04910029) Address: Flat 1, Moreton House Holly Walk, London MW3 6RA IER