Association for the Polish Family PYZA _Annual Report_ _2024/2025_ Page **1** of **12** ## **Our Chair of Trustees report** _The past year has continued to be shaped by the cost of living crisis and the ongoing impact of the war in Ukraine, both of which have placed sustained pressure on our community. Rising living costs remain a significant challenge, and the effects are clearly reflected in increasing demand for support and growing strain across households._ _Despite ongoing challenges around continuous and sustainable funding, our organisation has remained responsive and committed to delivering vital services. Short-term funding cycles continue to limit long-term planning, yet our staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to ensure support remains accessible to those who need it most._ _A key focus of our work this year has been settlement support for Ukrainians in the borough. Through the Ukrainian Hub, we have provided practical and emotional support, helping individuals and families navigate life after displacement and begin to rebuild stability and independence._ _Across all our services, we supported over 1,500 individuals during the year. Demand remains high, with the continuing cost of living crisis driving hardship and visible community frustration._ _As we look ahead, collaboration with partners, funders, and volunteers will be essential to sustaining impact and strengthening community resilience. On behalf of the Board, I thank everyone who has supported our work and enabled us to stand alongside our community during a challenging year._ ## **Kamila Dyczko** Association for Polish Family PYZA Chair **1. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY AND ITS TRUSTEES** Association for Polish Family PYZA presents the following report and accounts with the independent examiner’s report for the financial year ending 05 April 2025. Page **2** of **12** - _**1.1 THE ORGANISATIONAL AND DECISION MAKING STRUCTURE**_ Management Committee PYZA’s trustees for the period 2024/25 were: Kamila Dyczko Chair Andrzej Adameczek Treasures Francesca Godding Secretary Gillian Naomi Martin Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Management Committee can coopt members. ## _**1.2 REGISTERED OFFICE**_ Registered Office Address 66-72 High Street, SW19 2BY, Colliers Wood Operations New Horizon Centre South Lodge Avenue, CR41LT CEO S Szczepanski _Website www.polishfamily.org.uk_ Page **3** of **12** ## _**1.3 CHARITY STATUS & PUBLIC BENEFIT**_ Association for Polish Family PYZA is a registered charity (No. 1143505). The trustees have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charities Commission. ## _**1.4 ADVISORS AND STAFF**_ ## **CEO:** Slawek Szczepanski **Family Support:** Aneta Olszewska, Milena Rosa, Maria Tsyhan, Ruslana Sokolovska, **Ukrainian Hub:** Volodymir Partesa, Tatiana Koklova, Anatolii Poplov **Accountants:** Toppoint24 Accounting Services Ltd, 74 High Street Colliers Wood, SW19 2BY, London. **Bankers:** Cooperative Bank ## **Partners:** - Merton Council - Home Office - Wimbledon Foundation - London Community Foundation - ICB Merton and Wandsworth - South West London St Georges NHS Trust - • Merton Connected - Commonside Development Trust - WeAreDigital - Sustainable Merton Page **4** of **12** ## Page **4** of **24** ## **2. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## PYZA’s governing document is its Constitution. The governing body of the Charity is the Management Committee, which comprises of 6 trustee members. Trustees are from voluntary organisations based in, and/or offering a service in Merton, whose membership or area of service is targeted towards Polish community in Merton. All members of the Management Committee retire together at the end of the Annual General Meeting but are legally entitled to be re-elected or re-appointed. The Committee receives regular reports on all aspects of PYZA’s work and meets formally at least three times a year. A General Purposes Sub-Committee meeting is called at any time to consider urgent matters of business. The main responsibility of the Management Committee is to formulate PYZA’s business and strategic plans along with the annual budget and regular financial monitoring. ## Internal Controls The Trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that PYZA has an appropriate system of controls, and also responsible for ensuring that the funds belonging to the Charity are applied only in furthering the objectives of PYZA. During the year the Management Committee have received regular financial and management reports from the Co-ordinator and an annual review of PYZA’s polices and procedures. ## **3. Aim & Objectives** Association for Polish Family aims are: ‘to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the London Borough of Merton and surrounding area, in particular but not exclusively Polish citizens, by the advancement of education and training and the provision of recreational facilities in the interests of social welfare, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life’. Page **5** of **12** ## _**4. General Performance**_ Program of Activities - General advice and support - Community Fridge - Ukrainian Hub ## _Activities throughout year_ ## **Family Celebrations** Throughout 2024/25 we delivered a programme of inclusive family celebrations, including Easter, Mother’s Day, Halloween, Mikołajki, Christmas, and Orthodox New Year. These events strengthened social connections, reduced isolation, and provided culturally familiar spaces where families could come together and feel supported. ## **General Advice & Information** We continued to provide holistic advice and information across wellbeing, education, health, and social and economic hardship. Our support is designed to prevent situations from escalating and to enable individuals and families to move towards greater independence and self-sufficiency. ## **Practical Support** Practical assistance remained a core part of our offer, helping members with tasks made difficult by language or system barriers. This included making phone calls, writing letters, transport support, and facilitating access to playgroups, children’s activities, and family events that would otherwise be inaccessible. ## **Community Fridge** As the cost of living crisis persists, demand for food support has continued to rise. Our Community Fridge has remained a vital resource, providing free, high-quality surplus food while also promoting awareness of food waste and environmental sustainability. The service primarily supports Polish and Eastern European and Ukrainians community members experiencing financial hardship or crisis, typically for six to eight weeks. Despite ongoing challenges in securing sufficient food supplies, we continue to work proactively to meet growing demand and ensure essential support remains available. ## **Ukrainian Hub – Ongoing Settlement and Integration Support** The Ukrainian Hub continued to play a central role in supporting Ukrainian residents in Merton. Through face-to-face and telephone support delivered four days a week, with additional phone support on Fridays, we have helped individuals navigate life in the UK and progress towards stability. A key achievement this year was the delivery of our Silver ESOL programme for people aged 50+, with twice-weekly classes significantly improving language skills, confidence, and social integration. Our SkillUp programme has also delivered strong outcomes, supporting over 60 individuals into employment and better opportunities. Alongside this, weekly social and wellbeing activities have fostered connection, creativity, and mutual support. Integration is Page **6** of **12** progressing well, and we remain committed to supporting Ukrainian families as they rebuild their lives. ## **Health Inequalities Programme – Merton & Wandsworth** Our Health Inequalities work continued to strengthen engagement with Polish and Eastern European communities, creating structured opportunities for dialogue between residents and health services. Building on the success of our pilot, this programme has received strong endorsements to continue. By amplifying community voices and supporting statutory services to better understand cultural factors affecting health outcomes, we are helping to reduce barriers to access and improve equity. This work remains central to our commitment to more inclusive, culturally competent health provision. ## **5. Financial review** The Committee receives quarterly financial reports for the purpose of ensuring that there is proper monitoring and control of finances. ## **5.1 Accounting Policies** ## **Accounting convention** These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice: “Accounting by Charities”), revised in 2005. ## **Incoming resources** Income resources from grants, donations and contributions represent the amounts receivable in respect of the year. Grant income is deferred where it has been received in the current year, but relates to a project which takes place in the following year. ## **Charitable expenditure** This relates to expenditure made for the achievement of the objects of the organisation. Expenditure includes an apportionment of staff and office expenses where it is appropriate to do so. ## **Grants** The charity administers grants on behalf of public bodies or other agencies and is not itself a grant making body. ## **Fixed Assets** Fixed assets owned by PYZA include IT equipment and a minibus intended for transporting children and older members of the Ukrainian community. Page **7** of **12** ## **Governance costs** These include all expenditure not directly attributable to the charitable expenditure accounts in the financial statements. ## **Voluntary Help** A considerable amount of time is expended on the charity’s activities which is donated free of charge. It is not possible to quantify the value of time given and accordingly it is neither recorded as donated income nor as an expense in the accounts. ## **Restricted Funds** Where income has been received with conditions attached, which are more specific than the general objectives of the charity, it is allocated to a restricted fund. Subsequent expenditure of this income is charged to the restricted fund as it is incurred. Page **8** of **12** ## **Financial report** The overall budget for our organisation for the financial year 2024 – 2025 **----- Start of picture text -----**
Total Last
Unrestricted Restricted
funds year
funds funds
2025 2024
£ £
£ £
Incoming resources Notes
Charitable activities 1 4,205 39,922 44,127 366,953
Individual donations 2 - - - -
Asset and investment sales 3 - 44,355 44,355 -
Total income 4,205 84,277 88,482 366,953
Resources expended
Charitable expenditure 4 141,199 141,199 326,834
Asset and investment purchase 5 - 74,355 74,355 1,078
Total resources
expended - 215,554 215,554 327,912
Net incoming resources 4,205 - 131,277 - 127,072 39,041
Transfers between funds - 11,691 11,691
Funds brought forward 47,503 119,586 167,089 128,048
Funds carried forward on 5th April 40,017 0 40,017 167,089
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page **9** of **12** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Total
1. Notes to the financial statements Last year
funds funds funds
Incoming resources from charitable activities £
£ £ £
Grants received
Community Fridge - 5,422 5,422 2,844
LB Merton - - - 333,879
London Community Foundation - - - 984
NHS Trust - 34,500 34,500 8,645
Wimbledon Foundation 600 - 600 10,600
Other 3,605 - 3,605 -
Sub total 4,205 39,922 44,127 366,953
Unrestricted Restricted Total
2. Notes to the financial statements Last year
funds funds funds
Individual donations £
£ £ £
Individual Donations - - - -
Sub total - - - -
Unrestricted Restricted Total
3. Notes to the financial statements Last year
funds funds funds
Asset and investment sales £
£ £ £
Part exchange - 44,355 44,355 -
Sub total - 44,355 44,355 -
Total receipts 4,205 84,277 88,482 366,953
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page **10** of **12** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Total Last year
4. Notes to the financial statementsCharitable
funds funds funds 2025 2024
activities - expenditure
£ £ £ £
Administration - 3,318 3,318 3,035
Bike Hut - 5,219 5,219 10,751
Community Fridge - 1,376 1,376 3,265
Community Garden - 304 304 5,057
Insurance - - 1,079 - 1,079 3,830
Marketing & Publicity - - - 691
Office equipment - - - 1,797
Rent - 21,002 21,002 4,296
Contractors / Consultants - 90,807 90,807 226,292
Ukrainian Hub - 20,253 20,253 67,819
Sub total - 141,199 141,199 326,834
Unrestricted Restricted Total Last year
5. Notes to the financial statements
funds funds funds 2025 2024
Asset and investment purchase
£ £ £ £
Computer equipment - - - 1,078
Minibus - 74,355 74,355 -
Sub total - 74,355 74,355 1,078
Total payments - 215,554 215,554 327,912
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page **11** of **12** Approval This report, which has been prepared in acCxjrdan￿ with the General Direction given by the Charity Commission. has been considered by the Committee and signed by the Chair on its behalf. Kamila Dyczko (Chair. Trustee) ruary 2 Page 12 of 12 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES ASSOCIAMON FOR THE POLISH FAMILY-PYZA" 1143505 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from To 0510412025 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted fvnds Restri￿ed Enilowment Total funds Last year tr•ll% n¢•r¢¥t£ n¢¥est£ tothe ne•rest É to the nearest É A1 R•e•lpt$ Communiiy Fridge Crowdfunding IrKiividua DonabDn5 &422 12.844 LB Merton LB Wandsworth Lonoon Community Fou￿*0￿ Merton Giving NHS Tnjst Wimb16don FouDd8bori Oiher 333,879 34,500 8,645 10.600 3,605 Sub total(Gross income for AR) 41205 3•.922 44.127 .953 A2 A55et and investment sales Part oxchange 44355 44,3SS Sub total 4<35 355 4.205 84.277 88.482 366,953 A3 Payment$ Admifiislralion Blke Hul Community Fridge Community Garden Insurdn( Marketing & PUNI Offi¢$ e¥uipN*ni Refjl Staff costs Ukrainian Hub 3.318 5,219 1,376 3,318 5,219 1.376 304 1,079 3.035 10,751 3,265 5,057 3,830 691 1,797 4,296 226.292 67.819 326,834 1,079 21.002 90.807 20,253 141.199 21.002 90,807 20,253 141,199 Sub total A4 Asset and In￿Stment purchases, Iseo tablg Com uter e uipment Minibus 1,078 74.355 74.355 74.356 74,355 Sub totsl 1,078 215.554 215,554 327.912 Net of rgceipts/(payments) AS Transfers between fund$ A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year gnd 4,205 11,691 47,503 40,017 131.277 11,691 119,586 127.072 39,041 167,089 40.017 128,048 167,089 CCXX R1 accounts ISSI Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to no•r•*£ Restricted funds Endowment funds cat•9￿•# Details to nearest £ B1 Cash funds currwt￿￿nt ai tygnk 40.017 rotal cash funds 40.017 Unrestricted funds to rwrostt Restrlctod funds to n•arn8t£ Endowmont fund5 lo nearest£ Dètails NIA Fund to Wh￿h Curyentvaluo Ilonal D¢tail¥ NIA Cost loptionall 83 Investment assets Futhdto whi¢h ass•tb410 Curr•nt valu• onal Details Costloption•ll B4 As$et$ retslned for the charitys own use rrwuipr(w)t (PC. Th￿*￿￿)12020) R8stri&al fund5 1.86Q Loplop120241 Resthcted funds 1,078 MhbJs120251 R￿n¢*¥j fiMd¥ 74355 i-. Fund to w*kh Whèn du• onal Deta51$ ional B5 Liabllltles sign￿ by ona orMD trusts88 on behalf of all the Irustèps Date ol roval Signature Print Narne KAMILA DYCZKO 7. ANDRZEJ ADAMECZEK CCKX P2 account5 ISSI Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Association for Polish Family PYZA I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Association for Pollsh Family PYZA forthe year ended 5 April 2025. Responsibilitie5 and basls 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 20111'the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Trustrs accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Art and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){bl of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement I h3ve completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connettion with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: accounting records were not kept in respett of theTrust as required by section 130 of the Act. or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. 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. Signed: Name: P*k/g-L 6 LJ 31& I AMELIA (GB) LTD 76 HIGH STREET COLLIERS WOOD LONDON, SW19 2BY 11 Febwary 2026