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2025-08-31-accounts

Hungarian Cultural Association

Directors' / Trustees' Annual Report 2024/25

for the Financial Year ending 31 August 2025

Thanking our key supporter

Bethlen Gabor Alap Zrt

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Directors' / Trustees' Annual Report 2024/25

Prepared in accordance with the special provisions provided for smaller companies by Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities SORP (FRS102) guidelines for charities.

Reference and administrative information

Name of the company / charity:
Short name:
Hungarian Cultural Association
HCA
Date of incorporation: 15 April 2011
Any other name by which the company /
charity makes itself known:
Hungarian School and Cultural Association
Guildford
Magyar Kulturális Egyesület
Magyar Iskola és Kulturális Egyesület Guildford
Magyar Tanoda és Játszóház, Guildford
Charity registration number in England
and Wales:
1144110
Company registration number: 7606402
The address of the principal office of the
charity:
2 Elles Avenue, Guildford, GU1 2QH
The names of the charity’s trustees or
trustee(s) for the charity on the date the
report was approved:
Maria Chambers,
Katalin Hegedus
Dora Blazsek-Dixon
Maria Padfield
The names of any other person who
served as a charity trustee in the financial
year:
none

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Structure, Governance and Management

The nature of the governing document and how the charity is constituted:

The Hungarian Cultural Association is a Company Limited by Guarantee, constituted with a Memorandum and Articles of Association.

How the Charity is constituted:

The Hungarian Cultural Association (HCA) was established on 15 April 2011 as a company limited by guarantee and was registered as a Charity in October 2011. The HCA has continued the activities founded by its predecessor organisation, the Hungarian Cultural Group Guildford (HCG) established in March 2009.

The methods adopted for the recruitment and appointment of new trustees:

The Hungarian Cultural Association invites all its beneficiary members, volunteers and contracted staff to participate in the governance of the charity. It has invited any member or associated partner to apply for Trustee positions. New Trustees/Directors can be appointed by a resolution of the Board of Trustees/Directors or at the AGM. Trustees will resign on a rotation basis but can be re-elected at the AGM. During the Financial Year, all Trustees resigned and were re-appointed at the AGM in January 2024 and again in January 2025.

Objectives and Activities:

A summary of the objects of the charity as set out in its governing document:

The charity's objects as set out in the Articles of Association agreed on 16 September 2011 and accepted by the Charity Commission are as follows: (1) To advance the education of the public in the subject of Hungarian Culture (language and literature, music, art and craft, folk dance, history, etc.) in particular, but not exclusively, amongst families with Hungarian connections in the Surrey area.

(2) The prevention or relief of poverty, sickness and distress amongst families with Hungarian connections in Surrey or nationwide by providing grants, items and services to individuals in need.

Summary of the main activities undertaken in relation to those objects:

The charity achieves its aims through delivering regular educational sessions of Hungarian language and literature, folk dancing, singing and music, history, traditional art and craft to children aged 0-18 years as well as to adults who wish to learn Hungarian as a foreign language. There are also regular music, folk music and dancing, puppet show and poetry events, as well as educational trips to museums and botanical gardens open for all people from the wider community. Members with financial or other disadvantages can participate in activities free or at reduced price to ensure events and educational sessions are open to all. The charity also provides support and advice for people in need and aids personal development and employability through volunteering opportunities and coaching.

The trustees confirm that they have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

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Achievements and Performance

The Charity had 264 beneficiary members 104 children and 160 adults, individuals aged 0-80, many of them families with 1-3 children. They represent all segments of society from Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex, London and the Home Counties. There were in total over 4000 beneficiaries (members and non-members) who took part in the HCA’s activities and events in Guildford and London in this financial year between 1[st] September 2024 and 31[st] August 2025.

Education

Our unique Hungarian Cultural Identity Programme (HCIP) entered into its 17[th] year. We continued our main operation at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School in Guildford that provides flexible teaching tools and a wide outdoor space and occasionally use other venues for some events.

The HCIP delivered educational activities in 7 groups : 0-3, 4-5, 5-6, 7-8, 9+ and online for children and adults. Older teenagers are engaged as very capable teaching assistants across the other age groups. Fortnightly face to face sessions were held in Guildford, while our online groups and events reach a wider geographical area. Sessions are ranging from 60 – 210 minutes/week and cover: Hungarian language and literature, singing and music, folk dance, traditional craft, free play and library, delivered by 18 teachers and teaching assistants, including 2 volunteers from Hungary supported by the Korosi Csoma Programme and 4 volunteers, between 10.00 -14.00 on Saturdays 20 times a year. Total number of sessions per child were up to 80-100 this year depending on participation levels, for approximately 104 enrolled learners this year. They also benefited from our excellent teaching resources including a Hungarian children’s library, traditional folk costumes, and laptops. All school aged learners received a free learning pack at the beginning of the year.

The classroom and online course is expanded with regular educational nature trips to nearby locations.

Events

Along with the teaching programme, Hungarian cultural events play an integral part of the HCIP.

In this financial year we delivered the following events, many of which are much awaited recurring visits of well-known artists.

In October we celebrated Harvest with YekDuy, a band of young local Hungarian musicians, who play traditional folk music from different regions including Moldova, Felvidek and Somogy, there was a traditional dance event for children and families including learning new folk songs, dances and learning about folk instruments and we were dressed up in folk costumes. We

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pressed grape with the children and parents, which we of course, alongside a family quiz, craft activities and traditional food.

In early December we held our traditional St Nicholas celebration with a performance by a London based Hungarian theatre group Hubart, incorporating performances by the children. All who were good, received gift bags from Santa, followed by traditional food and crafts. Over 230 people attended this event despite of a storm.

In February our traditional masked ball was celebrated by a concert from our patron Gryllus Vilmos who played in Guildford as well as in Birmingham, continuing our long-standing cooperation with other Hungarian organisations, followed by a concert in London organised by us. Over 500 children and families attended the 3 events.

In Guildford following the concert we also had a family dance event and traditional games involving donates eating competition.

In March , the National Day on 15 March was celebrated by dedicated arts and crafts. There was also a dedicated performance by the children to thank their parents on Mothers’ Day.

In May, HCA organised an all-day educational trip to Bocketts Farm near Leatherhead, free for our enrolled children and discounted for adults and guests. Over 120 people attended the event. Here children had a chance to learn about the environment, domestic plants and animals both in English and Hungarian, and enjoy the wide range of outdoor play areas and we went on a tractor ride – which was the highlight of the day! In this month we also had a traditional Family Folk Dance event with a live Folk band returning to us.

In June, children performed in front of their parents the songs and folk dance they practiced during the year, followed by a Hungarian folk tale dramatised and presented by all school groups. The story was focusing on acceptance, kindness and diversity. The event was attended by 170 people.

The children made all the stage decorations together as one of their craft project. Students from the on-line school also joined us for the end of celebrations where we had Surrey Police attending the event too to the delight of all of us. Traditional food was also on offer!

In this year there were four 1-day dance workshops from different regions: Szilagysagi, Gomori, Mezosegi in November January, March and April for adults and older children led by David Gresa, an experienced folk-dance teacher and we hade live music provided by Folktone Band. These workshops were free for our teachers and their children. Dance enthusiasts from Bristol, London and Cambridge joined our local friends for these events. The events were followed by a visit to our local pub Horse and Groom where we had an opportunity to relax and socialise.

All our educational and cultural projects were supported by the Bethlen Gábor Foundation and the Hungarian state funded Korosi Csoma Programme. HCA provided bursaries of up to 100% to families in difficult circumstances to ensure financial means do not limit access to its activities.

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Continuous Professional Development

Our team participated in 7 Hungarian folkdance events and workshops in Guildford and 4 in London to ensure our teachers keep learning new folk dances and songs and keep their skills up to date.

6 teachers attended educational conferences in London and in Hungary organised by MAOSZ (Federations of Hungarians in the UK), Rakoczy Szovetseg and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

We have implemented several new teaching methods, and they have been very well received by our students.

Our PR and Fundraising activities were supported by our volunteers from Hungary and we had regular publications about our activities.

Financial Review

In this financial year the charity’s turnover was £38,319 (2024: £49,182), the decrease mostly due to the special grant received for the Solti Youth Orchestra visit in the prior year.

In this financial year, the income from our own activities has increased only marginally (£29,878 in 2025 v. £ 28,827 in 2024), but the level of regular grants received (excluding the Solti grant) increased (£8,441 in 2025 v £5,039 in 2024).

The organisation continued to control expenses, but the impact on the reserves was a reduction of £4,370 in 2025 compared to £2,197 in 2024. The reserves stand at £19,328 in 2025 (v £23,697 in 2024). This is still a healthy level of reserve and shows the merit of the Trustees' strategy to keep sufficient reserves to continue the operations of the charity for a reasonable period even in the absence of external sources.

This year our course fee income remained stable (£18,171 in 2025 v. £18,447 in 2024), while event fee income continued to increase (£5,505 in 2025 v. £4,569 in 2024). We have not increased course fees for the fourth year in a row, despite the inflationary environment and the continued increase of teaching fees.

We have continued to place the liquid funds on interest paying instant access and short-termnotice bank accounts as the interest rates have stayed high. The charity earned a total £677 in interest. We opted to stay with our current banking provider as the interest rate differential was still small, and we are well within the limits of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The charity did not invest in market instruments.

There were no funds in deficit during the financial year, and the charity has no concerns or uncertainties about its ability to carry out its activities and continue to operate as a going concern in the medium term, even if grant financing becomes less accessible.

In the financial year 2024/2025, the Charity had funds left from a prior grant and obtained one new grant from Bethlen Gabor Alap Zrt (BGA)

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In July, the Charity received confirmation of the award of £10,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund to finance regular activities and events. The fund was received but not yet spent and is accounted for as deferred income, to be used over the next two financial years.

The Charity's regular sources of income continued: including membership fees and course fees, income from events. Fundraising income from sale of food and toys remained stable. This year again, no Gift Aid request was submitted because only new families pay membership fees and no new declarations were received. The amounts would have been immaterial. A Gift Aid declaration campaign is planned for 2025.

The continued success of our operations means that the charity continues to exceed the £25,000 threshold requiring an Independent Examination and will submit this Trustees' Annual Report to the Charity Commission.

Further details are available in the Financial Accounts below.

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The 2024-2025 HCA Team

Mária Chambers Trustee/Director (Operations and Education, Safeguarding) Katalin Hegedüs Trustee/Director (Finance) Maria Padfield. Trustee/Director (Policies/Safeguarding) Dóra Blazsek-Dixon Trustee/Director

Patrons

Dr Beáta Pászthy Former Director of the HCC London Dr Ilona Gállné Gróh Ringato Music Foundation, Forrai Award winner teacher Veronika Marék Janikovszky Éva Award and József Attila Award winning writer Vilmos Gryllus Kossuth and Prima Primissima Award winning singer Margaret Olivers Chairman of the British Kodaly Academy Kolompos Ensemble Hungarian Folk Band

Operative Team
Mária Chambers
Session Leader – Music and Language 0-4, 5-11, Folk dance
Melinda Szabo Assistant Event Manager
Niki Bagon Session Leader – Kindergarten
Katalin Hegedüs
Session Leader – Language 5-6, and 9+, Folk dance
Katalin Vincze
Session Leader – Language 7-14
online, Adults Online
Orsolya Pinter
Session Leader - Language 7-8
Panka Rosko Session Leader – Art and Craft
Mate Rosko Teaching Assistant – Language and Art and Craft
David Gresa Session Leader – Folk Dance 5+ (Korosi Csoma Programme)
Agnes Bihari Teaching Assistant, Strategy Support (Korosi Csoma Programme)
Alicia Padfield Teaching Assistant
Magdalena Chambers Teaching Assistant
Anasztazia Chambers Teaching Assistant
Katalin Fabian- Markus Teaching Assistant
Szilvia Kovacs Teaching Assistant
Orsolya Nemeth
Teaching Assistant
Andras Csakany
Teaching Assistant
Esther Rubinstein Teaching Assistant

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Financial Accounts as at 31 August 2025 - Hungarian Cultural Association

Registered Charity in England and Wales reg. Number 1144110

Company Limited by Guarantee in England and Wales, company number 7606402

Prepared in accordance with the special provisions provided for smaller companies by Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities SORP (FRS102) guidelines for charities.

For the Financial Year ending 31 August 2025, the Company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to 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 responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and for preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The accounts give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company as at the end of the Financial Year and of its Profit and Loss for the Financial Year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394- 396, and

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which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to accounts, so far as applicable to the Company. All figures rounded to the nearest pound (£).

Trustee's Annual Report and Financial Accounts approved by the Board of Directors/Trustees on 16/3/2025.

Signed on behalf of the Board of Directors/Trustees:

Katalin Hegedus Maria Chambers Director / Trustee Director / Trustee

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Statement of Financial Activities (Profit and Loss Account)

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Summary of Fund Movements

Summary of Fund Movements Summary of Fund Movements
Outline su
Current Ye
mmary of Fund Movements - Carried Forward

ar(2024/25)
Opening Balance Incoming Resouces Outgoing Resources Gains/Losses Transfers
Unrestricte d Funds 23,235 30,555 34,592 -4,036 - 19,199
Restricted Funds 463 8,441 8,774 -333 - 130
Endowmen
t Funds -
Total Fund Movements Current Year 23,698 38,996 43,366 -4,370 - 19,328
Outline summary of Fund Movements -
Prior Year(2023/24)
Opening Balance Incoming Resouces Outgoing Resources Gains/Losses Transfers Carried Forward
Unrestricte d Funds 25,099 28,827 30,690 -1,863 - 23,235
Restricted Funds 796 20,355 20,688 -333 - 463
Endowmen t Funds -
Total Fund Movements Prior Year 25,895 49,182 51,379 -2,197 - 23,698

Notes to the Accounts for the Financial Year ending 31 August 2025

Hungarian Cultural Association:

Registered Charity in England and Wales reg. Number 1144110

Company Limited by Guarantee in England and Wales, company number 7606402

Prepared in accordance with the special provisions provided for smaller companies by Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities SORP (FRS102) guidelines for charities.

All figures are rounded to the nearest pound (£).

The Accounts show a true and fair view and were prepared on the going concern assumptions and using the accruals concept and provide information that is relevant, reliable, comparable and understandable.

Financial Review Policy on reserves:

The charity aims to hold the equivalent of the running costs of three school terms (c. £25,000) as reserve due to the uncertainties of grant financing. The reserves reported in the Accounts are below the target level, but funding for the next financial year has been secured, therefore the current level of reserve is expected to be maintained. A small portion of the reserves may be used for events at reduced cost or free of charge that is not otherwise financially viable, or for purchase of essential teaching equipment.

Details of any fund materially in deficit and the circumstances giving rise to the deficit and steps being taken to eliminate the deficit:

The Hungarian Cultural Association has not had funds in deficit at any time during the financial year ending 31 August 2025.

Funds held as Custodian Trustee:

The Hungarian Cultural Association does not hold funds as Custodian Trustee .

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Detailed Notes to the Accounts:

1. Fixed Assets

The Company has a policy to only capitalise assets with values in excess of £500. In January 2023, the company purchased a sound system for a total of £1,768, part funded by grant. The asset will be depreciated over 3 years. All previously purchased assets have been fully depreciated.

depreciated.
all in GBP Restricted Unrestricted Total
Original Cost of Fixed
Assets
£1,000 £768 £1,768
Cumulative
Depreciation
£870 £668 £1,538
Net Book Value £130 £100 £230

The resale value of all teaching materials currently in use by the Company but shown at zero value on the Balance Sheet is estimated at £2,000 and consist of around 250 library books, teaching reference books and teaching materials, 50 sets of folk costumes for adults and children, musical instruments and children's toys.

2. Stocks

The Company does not capitalise any stocks purchased and therefore calculates no revaluation or depreciation. Stocks, if any, would be valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

3. Debtors

There were no debtors as of 31 August 2025.

4. Provisions

The Company has no activities that would require any Provisions.

5. Financial Assets

The Company actively manages its liquidity across term deposits (up to 6 months), notice accounts and online savings accounts, in addition to the current account. All products are provided by our current banking provider Lloyds Bank. We continue to keep funds for immediate needs on a non-interest-bearing bank current account for transactional purposes and a small amount of petty cash kept as change for cash payments for fundraising sales, which was paid fully into the bank account before the closure of the financial year.

6. Creditors over one year

The Company has no long-term financial or other liabilities.

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7. Creditors within one year

Payables of £868 relate to three invoices, all paid in September 2025.

8. Tax

The Company is not subject to Corporation Tax as all its activities are exempt under Charity tax regulations. The Company has no employees, and it pays no PAYE and NI contributions.

9. Deferred Income

Of the total £22,340 deferred, £12,340 relates to course fees and event fees paid in advance in August for the term starting in September 2025 and deferred for the following financial year. The remaining £10,000 relates to the National Lottery Community Fund grant for teaching fees and events and will be used in the financial years of 2025/26 and 2026/27.

  1. Prepaid and Accrued Expenses

There were no prepaid or accrued expenses.

11. Capital

The Company has no share capital, as it is registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee. The total amount of guarantee is £30.

  1. All donations and grants were received as detailed in the activities section of the Annual Report.

  2. The main source of unrestricted income for the organisation is from its regular courses and events as well as the membership fees received. The Company also conducts fundraising activities (e.g. Hungarian food buffet, book and folk costume sales), all related to Hungarian culture. Financial assets were kept on interest paying, easily accessible savings accounts, earning £677 additional interest income that will be fully used for charitable activities.

14.The Treasurer (Katalin Hegedus) contributed 100 hours of professional management, accounting and financial services in-kind. Maria Chambers contributed 56 hours of management services. These services were considered at a value of £10/h. Volunteer hours for non-professional services are not represented in the accounts but have exceeded 200 hours in the year. Cakes and books donated for sale and eligible for Gift Aid were not recognised this year. Other in-kind donations of books, toys, provision of travel, storage and other services not eligible for Gift Aid were not represented in the accounts but exceeded £1,000 in total value.

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  1. The Company's major expense line items are below.

Professional Fees for Performing Artists: £3,090

Fees paid for the teachers, all of whom are self-employed and work on a fixed-term basis: £11,328, of which £3,394 are related party transactions.

Teaching Materials: £2,442

Management Fees: £10,110 of which £9,960 are related party transactions.

Details of the expenses are given in the Profit and Loss Account. All costs were attributed to the activity where it was incurred. Management fees and teaching fees were tracked based on actual hours spent on the activity.

For related party transactions including Directors' Remunerations as permitted by the Articles of Association and agreed by the Board of Trustees see the tables on the following pages.

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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinèr'$ Report Report to the trustè¢sldir8Ctor$l mernb•r8 of 4U AQI OJLfL)eA L Aw)Cirfiokl On accounts for the year •n(lèd SI Au&u£T 102< Charlty no.: Company no.: 7<0 6LkoL Set out on pag•s lo- I report to Ihe charfty trustees on my examinats.on of thè accounts of the Cornpany for Ihg year gThJed R8sponslbSlltlo8 and basS8 of ￿POrt As Ihe charity's trustees of Ihe Company (who arg a150 the directors of the company for thè purp03es ol company lawl, you are r8sponsible lor the Pfeparation of the accounts in accor(lance wth the requiremènts of the Companies Act 2006 llhe 2006 Act"). Having satisfied mys&ll that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audite<J lor Ihis year under Part 16 of tha 2006 Act 8nd are eligible lor In¢Jependent examinalion. I report in r85P8Ct of my examination of your charity S accounls as carTied ou¢ under sect￿n 145 01 th• Charitlgs Act 2011 l-the 2011 Acri. In carrying ovl my axaminalion, I havg followed the Direclion$ 9iven by the Charity Commission lunder sèdion 14515llbl of Ihg 2011 Act. Ind¢p¢nd?nt examlner'$ statemont tsf app1w￿. Deleie I l if nol applicable. I have completed my ex8fflin81ion. I conflmi that no materi81 matters have come to my allention (other than that disclosed below") which gives me cause to believe Ihat.. * accounting records were not kepl in a¢cx)rdance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.. or . ihe accounis do not accord wth such records.. or Ihe accounts ¢Jo not eomply vmlh relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the ac(x)unts give a 'lrue and lair. view which is not a matter conside￿d as part of an independent examination". or .the accounts have no¢ been prepared in accordance with the Charilles SORP IFRS1021. IER 19 PUBLIC

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