## **THE GENERAL JAN ZYGMUNT EMIL BEREK & IRENA BOGUMILA BEREK CHARITABLE TRUST** # **371 Uxbridge Road, London W3 9RH** ## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT** **FOR THE PERIOD 1.04.2020 - 31.03.2021** 1 ## **THE GENERAL JAN ZYGMUNT EMIL BEREK & IRENA BOGUMILA BEREK CHARITABLE TRUST 371 Uxbridge Road, London W3 9RH** ## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT** The Trustees’ Annual Report for the purpose of Chapter 4, Section 162 of the Charities Act 2011. ## **CONSTITUTION OF THE CHARITY** The Charity was founded on 15[th] September 2008 and is governed by its Declaration of Trust. The Charity Registration No. is 1150135. The Trustees act as a Council of Management. The Chairperson for the reporting year was Dr Jacek Janiszewski and the Secretary is Ms Barbara Jasnikowska. The current Trustees are: Dr Jacek Janiszewski, Dr Zbigniew Ciechanowicz, and Ms Roma Paluch (Legal Advisor). The principal offices and registered address of the Charity is: 371 Uxbridge Road, London W3 9RH. Independent Examiner: Frances Braidford FCCA Dauman & Co Ltd Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors 9 Station Parade Uxbridge Road London W5 3LD ## **THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CHARITY ARE:** To promote the education of Polish students of limited means or who would otherwise be unable to access further education to enable them to be educated in the United Kingdom at university or other institutions of higher education through the provision of grants and scholarships and subject to that for or towards such charitable purposes as the Trustees think fit. ## **STATEMENT OF THE TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES:** In accordance with the Trust’s objectives the Trustees are responsible for considering applications from students, assessing their suitability and deciding which students to sponsor and to what extent, to fund the students in accordance with the Trust’s agreed procedures; to liaise with the students on a regular basis and monitor their progress. The Trustees monitor students’ progress by receiving termly updates of courses covered and grades achieved as well as an annual report summarising the year’s studies, achievements, and how these are benefiting the students. They also obtain an annual report from the students’ personal tutors. The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the results of the charity for that year. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: 1. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 2. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 3. prepare the financial statements on the on-going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business. 2 The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Trust. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Trustees confirm that they have had regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance. ## **REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND POLICY** The Trustees hold two meetings a year usually in June and December. The Trust’s activities are being promoted to a greater audience of potential students through the Charities Commission Reports and by word of mouth and applications have increased significantly. During the course of the reporting year the Trustees have sponsored a wide variety of qualifying applicants including students at different universities and in a diverse range of subjects: biomedical science, mathematics, film practice, acting, animation, law, group psychotherapy, architecture and contemporary dance. All students have benefited from the sponsorship received. One student summarized these benefits in the following words “ …the support from the Berek Trust means everything to me: I can develop my passion without being concerned about the financial situation. …… I have been able to really grow as an artist and as a human being …” During the reporting year, studies were disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic with studies being conducted virtually and online. Thus the students’ achievements are even more praiseworthy than normal. The Trust is tax exempt. ## **RISK** With regard to risk, the Trust has identified two areas to which it is likely to be exposed. The first concerns fraudulent requests for assistance. The Trust therefore places the greatest stress on rigorous verification of all the requests for grants which it may receive and will always have regard to the possibility that such requests may be fraudulent. With this in mind, procedures are in place for the thorough and effective investigation of grant requests, as also for following up on the delivery of grants. These procedures will be constantly monitored and reviewed. The second area of possible risk concerns the Trust’s investments. These are reviewed regularly. The Trustees are aware of the current instability of the markets but remain confident that the investments are appropriate and sound. In this they rely on the advice of an Independent Financial Adviser. Returns to date have been profitable for the Trust, despite the unstable political, medical and financial climate. Risk Assessment is considered at every meeting of the Trustees who meet twice a year. Thus the Trustees remain confident that all areas of potential risk have been scrutinised and are monitored carefully ## **PLANS FOR THE FUTURE** The Trust intends to continue sponsoring a wide variety of students awarding long term grants, reviewing the extent of funding dependent on the students satisfying the Trustees that they are achieving a suitable standard of education. It will continue to consider further applications from potential students and their suitability for sponsorship within the criteria of the Trust’s objectives. 3 In view of the Trust’s extensive appeal to a wide variety of students, and the substantial increase in applications, the Trust has agreed a standard level of sponsorship in order to be fair and consistent in grants offered. It will look to maintain administrative workload at a manageable level while increasing the number of students the Trust is able to support. ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ Jacek Janiszewski Zbigniew Ciechanowicz Roma Paluch Date ………………. 4 In view of the Tnjsl's extensive appeal lo a wide variety of students, and the substantial increase in applicolions, the Trust has agreed a stsndard level of sponsorship in order to be fair and consistent in grants offered. It will look to maintsin administrative workload 8t a manageable level while increasing the number of students the Trust is ab￿ to support. Jacek Janiszewski Zbigniew Ciechanowicz Roma Paluch In view of the Trusfs exten5Ne appeal to a ￿ variety of studerts. and substantial inf7ease in appllcalions. the Trust has a￿eed a standard level of sponsorship in ryder to be fair and ￿nSIStenI in grants offered. It WIN look to maintsin administrative VID￿k)fid at a mmgeable knl vthile incFBasing the number of strKlents the T￿￿ is atrAe to iactk Janiszevts z￿gnIeW Cieehaii￿Z Rryna Paiu¢ii In wew of the Trust's exlenslve appeal to 8 wlde varlety of students, and the substantlal increase in applicaiions, the Trust has agreed a standard level of sponsor8hlp In order lo be falr and conslstent In grants offered. It will look to malnt81n 8dmlnlslr8llve workload 818 m8nag08ble level whda Incre8sing the numbor of students the Trust Is able to support. Jacek J8 szewskl Zblgnl8w Clech8novAcz Roma Paluch Date.........,......... THE GENERAL JAN ZYGMUNT EMIL BEREK & IRENA BOGUMILA BEREK CHARITABLE TRUST Charity number 1150135 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31.03.2021 CASH FUNDS Aviva Investment Advance IZLJrichl Inveslment HSBC - A Kay Pielron & Paluch Client Accourt Tolal Cash Funds 268,884 601,892 22.223 £892,999 LIABILITIES NIL Approved on behalf of the Trustees by.. ek Janis£e Date Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Thè General Jan Zygmunt Emll Berek & Irena Bogumlla Berek Charitable Trust (Charity Number 1150135) I report on the Accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2021 which are set oul on pages 4 10 5. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The eharity's t￿SteeS are responsible for the preparation of the a¢countq. The charity'5 trustees consider that an audit 15 not Tryuircd fvr Lhv yedt under seLtion 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and thal an independent examination is needed. It is my r¢spon$ibility to= examine the account8 under %ecti(Trn 145 of the 2011 Act. to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. and to slate whether particular matters have come to my attention. BA$iX af ittdependent exAminer's stgtement My cxajnination was Garrid out in accordance with the General Direction5 giv¢n by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the chariry and a comparlson of the accounts presenied with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the Accounts, and seeking explanations from the In￿le¢S concerning any such matters. Th¢ proc¢dut¢s und¢ttaken do not provide all th¢ ¢vid¢nr¢ that would bc rcquircd in an audit. and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'ttue and fair vlew. and ihe repon is limited to th05c maltcrs bct uui ￿l￿w. Independent examiner's statement In thc coursc of my cxamination. no mrktter IMS come to my attention.. (l) which give5 me reu50nabl¥ Lausr tu brli¢v¢ ilkat. iii atly Anattrial r¢5￿¢¢. th t￿￿te¢S have not met the requirements to ensure that: proper accounting records are kept in accordance with se¢tion 130 of the 2011 ac¢ounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act. or (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be r¢a¢hed. Date.. 12 Frances Braidford. FCCA Dauman & Co Limited 9 Station Parade. Uxbridge Road. Ealing Common, London, W5 3LD