THE GENERAL JAN ZYGMUNT EMIL BEREK & IRENA BOGUMILA BEREK CHARITABLE TRUST
158 Broadway, West Ealing London W13 0TL
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
FOR THE PERIOD 1.04.2023 - 31.03.2024
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THE GENERAL JAN ZYGMUNT EMIL BEREK & IRENA BOGUMILA BEREK CHARITABLE TRUST 158 Broadway, West Ealing London W13 0TL
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 Mrs Elzbieta Kornaga-Szydlowska. 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: 158 Broadway, West Ealing London W13 0TL.
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:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the on-going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
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 held two meetings in the reporting year on 9[th] June 2023 and 19[th] January 2024. Having found during Covid that virtual meetings were very successful and time as well as cost saving, the meetings were held online by means of Zoom. The Trustees continue to find this medium an efficient means of conducting business.
The Trust’s activities are being promoted to a greater audience of potential students through the Charities Commission Reports and by word of mouth.
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 - amongst others: -music; economics and management; law; marketing and stage management. All students have benefited from the sponsorship received. Two students summarised these benefits in the following words “My incredible privilege of studying in Oxford would be impossible without your [Trust’s] support. Because of this, my education, research, and extracurricular activity there have only been enabled thanks to your aid. [..] This year’s studies have vastly advanced my Economics and Strategy knowledge, jump-starting my journey to become a well-versed economist. The combination of subjects from every branch of Economics has prepared me well for future advanced studies, and will allow me to ground my work in the broad scope of economic theory. [..]; “I would not have been able to study [..] if not for the Trust’s support. None of the achievements and personal developments that I have described [..] would have been possible [..] This is a privilege which I want to recognise and which could have not been possible without the Trust’s support”.
Due to a significant increase in fees and costs the Trustees agreed that they will sponsor a maximum of 5 students in total in the next academic year.
A Kay Pietron & Paluch Solicitors LLP that served the Trust closed on 30.9.2023. The Trust's management was taken over by the Sweetman Burke & Sinker Solicitors of 158-160 Broadway West Ealing London W13 0TL. RP who is the Solicitor Trustee has moved from A Kay Pietron & Paluch Solicitors LLP and is now an independent consultant at Sweetman Burke & Sinker Solicitors.
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
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Possibility Ihal siich rcquosts m&iy be fraudulcnl. Wllh Ihls In mlnd, procedures are In place for the Ihoroiigh and elfecllve Invesllgallon of grant requests, as also for followlng up on the delivery of grants. The4e procediires will be constantly monllored and revlewed. The Qecond aiea of possible risk concerns the Trust's Investments. These 3re revlevied regLJlarty. The Triislèes are alvare of the current instability of the markets bul remain confident that the investments ale appropriate and sound. In Ilils they rely on Ihe advice of an Independent Financial Advlser. Returns lo dale have been profitable for the Trust. desplle Ihe unslable pollllcal, medlcal and financial climate. Risk Assessment Is consldered at every meetlng of the Trustees who meet twice a year. Thus the Trustees remain confident Ihal all areas of polenllal rlsk have been scrulinised and are monilored arefully. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE The Trust inlendslo continue sponsorlng a wtde v8rlely of$tudenls awarding long term grants. revlewlng the exlent offunding dependent on the students salisfylng the Trustees that they are a¢hieving a suitable standard of education. 11 wlll contlnue to conslder further applications from potential students and their suitabllity for sponsorshlp wlthln the ¢rileria of the Trust's objectives. In view of the Trust's extensive appeal lo 8 wide varlety ol sludents, and the substantlal Increase in applications, the Twst has agreed a Standard level of sponsorship in order to be falr and conslstenl in rants offered. It wll look lo malnlaln administrative workload at a manageable level while increasing the number of sludenls the Trust is able lo support. VJ %¢+ Zblgnlew Cie¢hanowicz Jacek Jyllszewskl Roma Paluch Date . l3
THE GENERAL JAN ZYGMUNT EMIL BEREK & IRENA BOGUMILA BEREK CHARITABLE TRUST Charity number 1150135
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE PERIOD FROM 01.04.2023 – 31.03.2024
| RECEIPTS | |
|---|---|
| Interest Received – Aviva & Scottish Widows | 6,493 |
| Dividends – Aviva & Scottish Widows | 3,926 |
| Equalisation – Aviva Scottish Widows | 500 |
| Aviva Investment – Increase in valuation | 13,879 |
| Scottish Widows – Increase in valuation | 1668 |
| -------- | |
| Total Receipts | £26,466 |
| ===== | |
| PAYMENTS | |
| Fees – A Kay Pietron & Paluch | 15,613 |
| Fees – Sweetman Burke & Sinker | 2,390 |
| Dauman & Co | 540 |
| Trustee meeting expenses | - |
| Investment charges – Aviva & Scottish Widows | 5,109 |
| Grave maintenance | 153 |
| Grants to students | 55,030 |
| -------- | |
| Total Payments | £78,835 |
| ===== | |
| Net Income/(Expenditure) | (52,369) |
| Cash Funds 01.04.2023 | 582,017 |
| ---------- | |
| Cash Funds 31.03.2024 | £529,648 |
| ====== |
THE GENERAL JAN ZYGMUNT EMIL BEREK & IRENA BOGUMILA BEREK CHARITABLE TRUST Charity number 1150135 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31.03.2024 CASH FUNDS Aviva Investment- per valuation 1110412024 Scottish Widows Investment - per valuation 2110212024 Sweetman Burke & Sinker Client Account 273,661 200,079 55,908 Total Cash Funds £529,648 LIABILITIES NIL Approved on behalf of the Trustees by.. Dr Zbigniew Ciechanowicz Date
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The General Jan Zygmunt Emil Berek & Irena Bogumila Berek Charitable Trust (Charity Number 1150135)
I report on the Accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are attached.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for the year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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- 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
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- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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 consideration 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 below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that:
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- proper accounting records are kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act; or
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(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
MO... B reerfre Frances Braidford, FCCA Dauman & Co Limited 9 Station Parade, Uxbridge Road, Ealing Common, London, W5 3LD